Chatpate Aloo, could be a show-stealer dish at the next party that you host. A simple yet delicious Snack that you could quickly prepare in your Microwave Oven that could save you from slogging in kitchen for long hours.
Of all the gadgets that I possess, the ones in my kitchens are the ones that I cherish the most. My oven (earlier microwave and now convection) is my favorite. Let me explain why.
Almost a decade ago, I started working in IT in Infosys- an Indian IT behemoth. It was then I found a new hobby of “Cooking”! Though it started as a necessity, it didn’t take long for this hobby to be transformed into a full-blown passion- a true stress buster for me.
Few years later, I got married and as an Indian adage goes, “To reach someone’s heart you need to traverse through their stomach.” In my new role as a wife and daughter in law, I began taking my cooking more seriously and innovation was the order of the day. I would end up making dishes from cuisines Pan-India and serve them to my family. Gradually, we started hosting our friends and extended family for lunches and dinners. These meals would be multi-course and planned weeks in advance.
During these years, I received a gift on my wedding anniversary in form of Convection Oven that replaced simple Microwave Oven that I owned up until then. Can you imagine anniversary gift – convection oven?
Microwave oven has proven to be a boon in my busy IT career. As years passed, professional responsibilities and office hours increased proportionally and oven has been my saving grace. It has helped me immensely by saving my time in cooking that has translated in quality family time.
Once, while strolling through the book shelves in Crossword at a leisure pace, a book caught my attention. It was “Microwave Desi Khana “by Tarla Dalal. I have a deep admiration for late Tarla Aunty and really love to watch her videos since I was a kid. A big reason was her sweet and caring voice which sounded music to my ears! This book is good in content and everyone who loves to cook in microwave should buy and try out the recipes. It will help you to befriend your oven.
Today I am sharing “Chatpate Aloo” recipe from this book which is my personal favorite. However, I have tweaked the recipe quite a bit and also altered the cooking times as per my trials.
This is the ideal recipe for your quick kitty parties and cocktail parties, even for your kid’s evening snacks!
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 3-4
- 18-20 Baby Potatoes (300 gms)
- 1 tbsp Fresh Cream
- ½ tsp Dry Mango Powder
- ¼ tsp roasted dry Fenugreek leaves
- 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
- Salt to taste
- 7-8 Dry Red Chilies
- 6-7 Cloves of Garlic
- ½ inch Ginger root
- 1 tsp roasted Cumin Seeds
- 2 tsp roasted whole Coriander Seeds
- Wash and clean Potatoes to get rid of dirt. Prick each potatoes with a fork. Potatoes are now ready to be cooked in Microwave
- Arrange Potatoes at the sides of the glass tray. Place a Microwave safe bowl filled with water at the center of glass tray
- a) Mode: Micro b) Power: High (900W) c) Time: 6 mins d) Press Start
- If you are wondering, why have we placed a bowl of water in Microwave. Microwave heat is dry heat. Though it cooks the potatoes but its skin may become wrinkled and cracked. In this recipe, we want to retain the texture and shape of Potatoes. So we have placed a bowl of water in Microwave, which makes the heat moist. Thus potatoes retain its texture and does not become wrinkled.
- Meanwhile, we will grind a masala paste. Put dry red chilies in grinder. Add Ginger, Garlic,roasted whole coriander seeds, roasted cumin seeds. Add water and grind into fine paste (We have used 3 tbsp water while grinding, We have used 2 more tbsp water for cleaning grinder jar)
- We have cooked potatoes for 6 mins. Insert a toothpick to check if potatoes have cooked well. Baby Potatoes take about 6 mins on 900Watt. Based on size of Potatoes, cooking time may vary
- Potatoes are cooked and masala is ready as well. Take a Microwave safe bowl, add Cooking Oil. Add grounded masala paste and mix well. Cook this masala for 2 mins in Microwave
- a) Mode: Micro b) Power: High (900W) c) Time: 2 mins d) Press Start
- After 2 mins of microwave cooking, add salt to taste and mix well.Add Dry Mango Powder. Add cooked Potatoes. Cut large Potatoes into halves and mix well
- Now add Dried Fenugreek leaves powder (Kasuri methi), Full cream and mix well. Cook for 2 mins in Microwave
- a) Mode: Micro b) Power: High (900W) c) Time: 2 mins d) Press Start
- Chatpate Aloo is ready. Garnish with some coriander leaves. Serve with Dahi Pudina chutney
Click to watch recipe video
Leave a Reply