Semi-dry potato masala

After looong nap on a hot summer day, waking up to the realization that there is nothing to quieten the appetite is the stepping stone to pick up the phone to dial a home delivery

But then nothing on the takeaway menu was tempting enough, so decided to do with what was available in my kitchen. That's how I ended up with a late lunch of rice and a semi-dry potato curry

What I used

1. Half-boiled medium-sized potatoes: 2
2. Vegetable oil: 1/4 cup
3. Mustard seeds: 3/4 teaspoon
4. Diced  medium-sized onion: 1
5. Chopped ginger and garlic: 1 teaspoon each
6. Chopped tomatoes: 2
7. Salt: to taste
8. Green chillies: 2
9. Vegetable/meat masala: 1.5 tablespoons
10. Curry leaves: 1 sprig
11. Water/chicken stock/vegetable stock: as needed
12. Coconut milk (optional): 1/2 cup

How I made it

1. Heat the oil in a flat-bottomed pan on low flame. When the oil is hot enough, splutter the mustard seeds and saute the onion with the ginger-garlic and some salt for about 20 minutes till it becomes soft
2. Add the tomatoes, green chillies and curry leaves and continue cooking till the tomatoes turn mushy
3. Add the masala powder and required salt. Mix well and cook till the raw masala smell is gone ensuring it doesn't burn
4. Add the semi-boiled potatoes and mix well such that every potato piece is coated well 
5. Add enough water/stock to submerge the potatoes, at the same time ensuring it is just enough for a thick gravy. Meaning the gravy shouldn't get too watery
6. Keep the pan covered and allow it to cook on low heat for about 20 minutes with occasional stirring to mix the contents
7. Once the gravy has reduced, add the coconut milk and continue cooking till the gravy reduces again and the dish is semi-dry
8. Turn off the heat and keep the pan covered for another 20 minutes before serving
   PS: Do check the softness of the potatoes in between so they don't overcook and break apart

This goes really well with chappathi, bread, dosa, rice if one is in a spicy mode

You can literally just mix and match your combos as you like. There is no rule :D
If nothing else, just drizzle some lime juice and have this as is ;-)