Yudhika on SABC 2’s Mela….preparing a Gandhi inspired Thali

I have been blogging my heart out and then things have quieted down and so did the blog…I needed a little time to catch my breath and fix a few techno glitches.  To end this crazy busy spell, I have just completed a whole new series of ‘Food Mela’ – I was absolutely delighted to be cooking on the show!

I haven’t blogged for a while and was quite surprised after receiving messages from my blog friends requesting my return to the blogosphere!  Heartwarming is the best word to describe it!

On last weeks food insert, I featured a Gandhi inspired thali concentrating on frugal food. A thali is a metal plate that has a few different dishes served in little bowls or Katoris on it…this is the best way to enjoy Indian food and you can try a selection of different dishes in smaller quantities.  I have grown up loving frugal food like a simple potato curry, dhal and okra!  Gandhi’s food philosophy was around not just filling your tummy, it was about nourishing the soul too! If you missed the step by step food Mela video, click here…https://yudhikayumyum.com/sabc-2s-mela-videos/mela-gandhi-inspired-thali/

On the Mela menu, was Potato Curry with Methi and Tempered Okra  – Gandhi’s favourites!  Potato Curry is one of those stock standard favourites in any Indian home and I love a little leftover potato smushed into fresh bread almost like a potato buttie!  Paired with a cup of good coffee, it’s the best hangover treatment…not that I get hangovers!

The potato is simple enough to make – just remember to use Up to date potatoes for this recipe….they are available in Fruit and Veg City and in Indian Green Grocers!  These potatoes have a floury texture like the English Maris Piper and King Edwards – they work like a charm! Here are a few tips to getting the okra right!  Firstly, always slice the okra and leave it to dry out for a while to get rid of the sticky gooey liquid.  Add salt after the okra is cooked…salt draws out the moisture from the okra and will turn your dish into a sticky mess…if you are cooking up a large amount of okra, fry them off in batches to prevent them from stewing….and for heaven’s sake, use a really good pan or skillet like the AMC 28cm Chef’s pan to fry off the okra….if you have a ‘crack pot’, the okra will stew!  With an AMC pan, the solid base heats up evenly and retains the temperature!  Now, on with the recipe!

Potato and Methi