Baked Potato or Fried with Goda Masala

After a long tiring day, you start wondering about dinner options. If you’ve gotten take outs twice this week, today you need to prepare something at home. Once your main-dish is sorted out you start wondering about side dish while staring at your refrigerator. How about Baked Potato with a lot of green peas (which you got last week)? What, You don’t have fresh peas? It’s OKAY to use frozen peas.

Time for announcement: I am trying vegetarian diet for a few weeks now. 

“What do you mean by you’re turning into a vegetarian.”

My friends always asked me in shock whenever wanted to try vegetarian diet for weeks. This time Matt laughed and said “You’re going to stop eating Chorizo and Bacon, you must be kidding.”

{This photo is inspired from Novice Housewife. }

Well, I am not. This summer I want to try healthy and whole-sum eating. It will be hard for me to let go my animal love but nothing is impossible. It’s a bit of extra cooking; during Saturday I am cooking a large portion of whole grains like quinoa, bulgur. In addition to that, I prepare some vegetarian protein like beans, tofu, hard boiled eggs (I know it’s not vegetarian) and a plethora of vegetables. I just simply sauté them with garlic, salt and olive oil.

When I am hungry and in hurry, I prepare a bowl of quinoa, veggies, sautéed garlic, chopped eggs, tofu and dive into it. Sometimes I just eat a bowl of daal and fried potato with peas.

A few months back Manasi from Hour Glass Mommy gave me a packet of Goda Masala. I have eaten Goda Masala before thanks to my grad life at Buffalo. Whenever I went Prasad’s home I could smell the aroma of Goda Masala few feet away from the house, it’s that distinct. After getting Manasi’s Goda Masala packet I thought of making traditional Maharashtrian potato curry (Aloo Raasa), but I did not want to spend too much time.

So I added potato, salt, oil, red chile powder and goda masala on a baking tray and baked it. It turned out so well we finished half pound of potatoes in a day. After that I did a fry which paired nicely with any dish. I got hooked into this recipe and I started preparing every week. Very soon Manasi’s masala came to an end and I needed to find the recipe of that. I followed Manasi’s recipe however it still is not exactly same as hers – but it’s nice!

In order to add some green twist, I have added some peas (which are filled with protein) to this recipe.

Goda masala, potato, peas, salt and chile powder – yes that’s all you require to make a scrumptious baked potato or potato fries. I am serious, make a big batch of goda masala and prepare this side in a jiffy while your entrée is getting ready. Oh yes; if you make don’t forget to tag me at Instagram(@storyofcooks).

The original Goda Masala has a distinct taste which (in my opinion) comes from Stone Flower. However it’s not possible to find stone flower in states. But Manasi’s mom says Masala does not have a standard recipe and it changes over the years.

Recipe for Baked (Fried) Potato with Goda Masala

Spice Mix

You can produce this spice mix in a big batch and store it in an air-tight container for 6 months or more.

1 cup desiccated coconut

1/2 cup whole coriander seeds

whole red chile to taste

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon black peppercorn

1 teaspoon asafoetida

3-4 bayleaves

1 tablespoon whole cloves

1 piece (2-inch cinnamon)

1 tablespoon whole cardamom

1/2 tablespoon black cardamom

1 tablespoon star anise

Salt to taste

1. In a cast-iron skillet, dry roast all of them. When they are cool enough dry grind them in a mortar pestle or coffee/spice grinder.

Baked Potato

You can use any kind of potato for this recipe but my favorite choices are yellow and red baby potatoes. You can use frozen peas, if you don’t have fresh peas.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound baby potatoes

2 teaspoons spice mix

salt and ground red chile to taste

1/2 cup fresh peas

3 scallions, finely chopped (for garnish)

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

1. In a non-stick skillet, over medium heat, heat vegetable oil. Add potato pieces, spice mix, salt and ground red chile. With a spatula mix it well. Reduce the temperature to medium-low and cover it. Cook it for 8 to 10 minutes or until they are slightly tender.
2. Add peas and cook it for an another 5 to 6 minutes, or until peas are cooked through. Add scallions and take it aside. Garnish with cilantro and serve it warm

Baking instruction

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. In a baking sheet, add potatoes, spice mix, salt and red chiles. Drizzle oil and with hands mix them well. Bake them for 20 minutes. Add peas and bake them for an another 10-15 minutes or until they are cooked through.