Bharu bateta shak

Bharu bateta shak

This is a traditional Gujarati curry (Shak).  Small potatoes (new /baby potatoes) are scrubbed, peeled and slit  3/4 of they way through the middle so that the potato remains whole but can hold the crushed peanut stuffing. If you have ever visited a Gujarati household during meal times, you may have come across this particular Bharyu Shak. The method of stuffing the potato is something you will gain expertise on once you have made this a few times.  Having said that, if the potato falls apart while you try to fill it with the masala, don’t discard these..simply put the halved potatoes in the pan with the stuffed ones and sprinkle the peanut masala on top. 

The stuffing is mainly peanuts and the masalas from the Masala Dabba amongst a few other pantry ingredients.

Often this curry is made with a combination of baby (purple) eggplant and potatoes.  This is a vegetarian dish that is great for get togethers and a total crowd pleaser.  I sometimes add, onions and bell peppers to this curry but it all depends on who is going to be present at dinner, my son and his friends are not partial to the baby eggplants so I will avoid these when they are dining in.

   A word of warning to the novice cook – watch the cooking process as the peanuts do have a tendency to settle at the bottom of the pan.

10 small potatoes

2 tab sp ground pea nuts

2 tab sp dhana jeeru

1 tab sp gram flower

1 tea sp turmeric powder

1 tea sp chilli powder

1 1/2 tea sp salt

1/2 tea sp sugar

1/2 tea sp lemon juice

1 tab sp oil  ( will need 5 tab sp oil to cook potatoes as well)

1/2 tea sp rai

pinch of asafoetida

2 tab sp crushed tomatoes

Mix pea nuts,dhana jeeru,gram fl,turmeric powd,chilli pow,salt,sugar,1 tab sp oil,toghter and fill the half splited potatoes. in the pot add 5 tab sp oli,heat the oil add rai & asafoetida cover the lid add stuffed potatos add the extra masalas.add 1/4 cup water and let it cook on medium heat.add crushed tomatoes & lemon juice when potatoes half cooked. An easy way is to presher cook.Once the oil gets hot add rai,asafoetida add potatoes and all the above ingredients with 1/2 cup water and in just one whisel is done.Garnish with cilentro. can also microwave : just cover the dish,cook for 3 min  mix toghter microwave for appx 3 more min or until its cooked.Garnish with cilentros.