Potato Sagu is an ultimate combo for Rava idli, here in Bangalore. I came to know about Rava idli or Sagu only after coming to Bangalore, after my marriage. Earlier, we never found this combo in Mangalore. I like potato Sagu which is served with Rava idli in MTR hotel, Bangalore. It is here, that the invention of Rava idli happened, during the world war II. At that time, making of idli was so difficult, due to short supply of the rice, this is how they experimented with semolina to prepare idli and it is now history and Rava idli has become a staple diet of south Indians throughout the world.
Earlier I used to use MTR or Mayya’s Potato Sagu masala to this side dish to get a taste as close as their Sagu. But, now they have stopped the product. To replace it, I started using my own masala.
My preparation goes like this-
Ingredients:
Potato – ½ kg
Onion – 2
Ginger – ½ “
Green chillies – 2
Tomato – 2
Coriander leaves – 2 table spoons
Salt
Sugar/ jaggery
Turmeric – ½ tea spoon
Sagu masala powder – 1 ½ to 2 tea spoons (Mixture of Puffed chana/ Putani powder, coriander powder, jeera powder, little garam masala and tamarind powder)
Seasoning:
Cooking oil – 2 table spoons
Mustard – 1 tea spoon
Urad dal – 1 tea spoon
Chana dal – 1 tea spoon
Cumin – ½ tea spoon
Hing – one pinch
Curry leaves – 2 springs
Method:
-Wash potato, cut it into half and cook in sufficient water for 2 whistles in a pressure cooker.
-When it is cool, remove skin, mash and keep aside.
-Chop onion, ginger, green chillies, tomatoes and coriander leaves.
-Take one deep pan, add oil for the seasoning, when it is hot, splutter mustard, fry urad dal and chana dal. Next add hing, cumin, curry leaves.
-Next- fry onion, green chillies, ginger. While frying add turmeric powder as well.
-When onion is light brown, add tomatoes, salt, sugar or jaggery, Sagu masala and fry until tomato is mushy.
-Add 2 to 3 cups of water and when it starts boiling, add mashed potato, coriander leaves and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until it becomes a homogeneous mix in a low fire.
-Serve with Rava Idli Or Rava and Oats idli as a dip.