Spiced Picnic Potatoes with Tomato Sauce

1. Boil and Cool Potatoes

Start by boiling eight medium-sized potatoes until they are tender. Ideally, do this a couple of hours ahead of time so they have a chance to cool. Once cooled, peel the potatoes and cut them in halves or quarters if they are large.

2. Deep Fry Potatoes

Heat enough oil in a large skillet, wok, or karhai for deep frying. When the oil is hot, fry the potato pieces until they turn golden brown. This frying process creates a crispy exterior that will hold up well with the sauce. Remove the potatoes and set them aside.

3. Make Onion-Garlic Paste

Blend the chopped onion and garlic with three tablespoons of water until you achieve a smooth paste.

4. Cook Spices

In a heavy-bottomed pot, heat six tablespoons of oil. Add a pinch of asafetida (if using), seven fenugreek seeds, half a teaspoon of fennel seeds, a quarter teaspoon each of black onion seeds and black mustard seeds, one bay leaf, and three dried hot red peppers. Stir the spices for about 10 to 20 seconds until the bay leaf and chili darken and the spices release their aromas.

5. Cook Onion-Garlic Paste

Add the onion-garlic paste to the pot along with half a teaspoon of ground turmeric. Fry this mixture, stirring frequently, for about five minutes until it turns golden and fragrant.

6. Cook Tomatoes

Add the peeled and chopped tomatoes along with a pinch of sugar. Cook for another five minutes until the tomatoes break down and meld with the spices, creating a rich base for your sauce.

7. Combine Potatoes and Sauce

Pour in two cups of water and stir in one and a half teaspoons of salt. Add the fried potatoes to the pot, making sure they are well-coated with the sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer. Turn the potatoes after ten minutes to ensure they are evenly cooked and infused with the sauce.

8. Serve

To serve, place the potatoes in a shallow serving dish and pour the sauce over them. Enjoy your spiced picnic potatoes with tomato sauce, a dish that combines crispy potatoes with a flavorful, aromatic sauce.