Stir-Fried Cauliflower & Potato W/ Crunchy Bengali Spices

Name: Stir-Fried Cauliflower & Potato W/ Crunchy Bengali Spices
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons canola oil; 1 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalaunji) (optional); 1 teaspoon cumin seed; 1/4 teaspoon coriander seed (rounded teaspoon); 1 1/2 lbs red boiling potatoes, peeled, halved and sliced lengthwise about 1/2 thick; 1 small-medium head cauliflower, cored and cut into medium florets; 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste I'm a wimp); 1 fresh hot green chili pepper, chopped (or to taste); 1 teaspoon salt (to taste); 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Submitted by Sandi From CA

"Nigella, the little tear-shaped black seeds, about 1 mm long, are used throughout South Asia as a spice and flavoring. They have an earthy, peppery taste, a little like oregano. Nigella and cumin seeds, cayenne and fresh ginger. The Bengali spices add a little zing to the warmer cayenne and ginger. The nigella adds crunch. Although this will go well with almost any combination of Indian foods, it’s particularly good with matter paneer and raita, served with chapatis or toasted pita bread. Recipe is from Suvir Saran and Stephanie Lyness’ Indian Home Cooking."

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Ready In:: 40mins
Ingredients:: 11
Serves:: 4

ingredients

3 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon nigella seeds (kalaunji) (optional)
1 teaspoon cumin seed
¹⁄₄ teaspoon coriander seed (rounded teaspoon)
1 ¹⁄₂ lbs red boiling potatoes, peeled, halved and sliced lengthwise about 1/2 thick
1 small-medium head cauliflower, cored and cut into medium florets
¹⁄₈ teaspoon ground cumin
¹⁄₈ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to taste I'm a wimp)
1 fresh hot green chili pepper, chopped (or to taste)
1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

directions

Combine the oil, nigella if using, cumin, and coriander seeds in a large wok or frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until the cumin seeds turn golden brown, 2-3 minutes.
Add the ginger and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the potatoes and stir well to coat with the spices. Then cover and cook until the potatoes have browned some and have begun to soften and stick to the bottom of the pan, 8-10 minutes. Stir three or four times during this time and check the cooking. If the potatoes brown too quickly, turn the heat down. If they aren’t browning at all, raise the heat.
Add the cauliflower, ground cumin, cayenne, and fresh chile and stir to coat the cauliflower with the spices. Then cover and cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan thred or four times during cooking, until the potatoes are well browned, about 10 minutes.
Sprinkle the vegetables with salt, cover, and continue cooking until the cauliflower is nicely browned and the vegetables are tender, 5 to 10 more minutes. Stir the vegetables every 3-4 minutes and check the cooking; if they begin to stick badly and burn, add a teaspoon of water and scrape with a spatula to loosen the spices and crispy bits from the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and serve hot.