Panchphoran Aloo ~ Arusuvai Season II

I was taking baby steps in blogging when I came across this unique concept of sending a secret ingredient through a chain of people,aptly named Arusuvai.It was initiated By Latha Narasimhan of The Yum blog.But sadly,by the time I showed interest in it,Srivalli and Bharathy,the master planners behind Arusuvai,were wrapping up the first edition.I felt sad,but hey not anymore.When Sayantani blogged about reviving the chain from where it ended,I got curious.Now that would be fun.

The Inside Story

Arusuvai Friendship chain is an online effort to touch the hearts of food bloggers across the world with a mystery ingredient and a promise of friendship. this was started in 2007 by Mrs. Latha Narasimhan of the 'Yum blog'.it was inspired by the Amish Friendship chain in the US which led her to think to start something similar to identify and unite Indian food bloggers too. in the beginning it worked as a chain by sending along a surprise ingredient to a friend to prepare something tasty with it, share the recipe and then passing on another mystery element to more people to continue the chain.She aptly named it Arusuvai which means " six tastes (aru=six, suvai=taste) in Tamizh and is used to refer for Tasty preparation with six tastes – inippu/ thithippu (sweet), orappu/ karam (hot), kassappu (bitter) , pulippu (sour), uppu(salt), tuvarpu (tastes that one gets in raw leaves). Her talented daughter Lakshmi came up with these beautiful logos for the event.

I got a package from Sayantani some time back and it was the first time I was getting something through mail[which was blog related].I got excited and when I opened it,my excitement doubled as Sayantani had sent,along with the secret ingredient some lovely home-made goodies and some cute knick-knacks as well.The moment I saw the box which had the secret ingredient,I knew it was Panchphoran,but still,I googled and made sure I was right.

I remembered so well because,sometime back I had written down a Bengali Tomato Chutney and backed out only because it required Panchphoran.I know,I know it is very simple to make and assemble this spice mix,but I was too lazy for that.Now that I had this,I can't seem to find the chutney recipe,what an irony!!But no worries,I chose this super-simple Aloo panchphoran which is a medley of vegetables with the unique flavor of panchphoran.

Panch phoron is a colourful blend of flavourful seeds: the green of fennel seed, black mustard and nigella seeds, golden fenugreek and buff-coloured cumin seeds. Some variations may substitute anise for the fennel seeds or wild mustard for cumin, radhuni seed for mustard, and possibly black cumin for nigella. Generally the ingredients are added in equal proportions, though this can vary according to taste.

Panch phoron is usually fried in oil or ghee before adding anything else to the pot, flavouring the oil and releasing the aroma of the oils in the seeds and causing them to pop in the pan. Other ingredients are added at this point, the mixture adding sweetness and bringing forward the flavours of vegetables, beef, fish or lentils.Source

Panchphoran Aloo
Recipe adapted from Bong-Mom


Ingredients


Potato - 1,cubed
Green peas - 1/4 cup
Panchphoran - 1/2 tsp
Oil - 1 tsp
Green chilly - 1,finely chopped
Haldi powder - 1/4 tsp
Salt to taste


Method


Cook the potatoes and green peas till soft.
In a kadai add oil and splutter the panchphoran for a few seconds,stirring all the while.
Add haldi and green chillies and give a good mix.
Mix in the cooked potato and green peas,add salt to taste.
Cook on simmer for about five minutes or till the vegetables are well coated with the masala.
Serve hot with rice/roti.


My Arusuvai package has gone to Gayathri and Megha,I am anxious to see what they come up with!!