Potato Podimas

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Potato podimas recipe with step by step photos. Potato podimas is basically mashed potatoes that are tempered and spiced with the regular South Indian spices and herbs. It makes for a flavorful side dish to go with any South Indian meal.

potato podimas served in a white bowl with a plate of masala rice and a small bowl of cucumber and onions kept with it.

This recipe of potato podimas is inspired from a South Indian restaurant that we used to frequent often in our childhood days. Their potato podimas used to be part of their South Indian thali and would be damn good. 

With few and easily available spices which are always stocked in an Indian kitchen, you can make this delicious dish.

I make potato podimas often as it is so simple and easy to prepare. I usually make it with a rice based dish like Tomato Rice or Coriander Rice. They also go well with Curd Rice.

Another similar South Indian side dish made with potatoes is Potato roast. It is spicy and hot and is also served as an side dish with sambar rice or dal rice combo.

This recipe of potato podimas is not spicy neither hot and is an excellent combination with pooris, chapatis or paratha. It can also be had as a side dish with sambar or rasam and steamed rice. This is also a satvik no onion no garlic recipe.

Two tips for making potato podimas:

  1. If adding lemon juice and coconut, then add them towards the end. Switch off the gas stove and then add the lemon juice and coconut. Stir and mix well.
  2. You can also add ¾ teaspoon of urad dal in the tempering.
Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Potato Podimas

1. Measure and keep all the ingredients ready for making the dish.

ingredients for making potato podimas

2. Rinse 2 large potatoes very well in fresh water. Then boil or steam the potatoes in a stovetop pressure cooker or steamer or Instant pot adding water as needed. The potatoes should be completely cooked and of mashable consistency.

boiled potatoes

3. When the potatoes become warm or cool, peel them.

peeled potatoes

4. Mash them coarsely. You can also crumble the potatoes if you prefer. Keep the roughly mashed potatoes aside.

crumbled potatoes

Making potato podimas

5. In a pan, heat 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of oil. Crackle ¾ teaspoon mustard seeds on low heat.

crackling mustard seeds

7. Then add ¾ teaspoon of cumin seeds.

cumin seeds added

8. Let the cumin seeds splutter on low heat.

splutter the cumin seeds

9. Add 1 chopped green chili (about ½ to 1 teaspoon of chopped green chilies) and 1 teaspoon of grated ginger.

ginger garlic added

10. Next add the following ingredients:

  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ¼ teaspoon asafoetida powder (hing)
herbs and spices added

11. Fry for 8 to 9 seconds on low heat taking care that the spices don’t burn.

frying spices and herbs

12. Then add the coarsely mashed or crumbled potatoes.

mashed potatoes added

13. Add salt as required.

salt added to potatoes

14. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes on a low heat stirring at times.

sauteing potatoes

15. Add ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves.

coriander leaves added

16. Saute for 1 to 2 minutes more on a low heat. Instead of sauteing with coriander leaves, you can also garnish with coriander leaves.

cooked potato podimas in a pan

17. Serve Potato Podimas hot or warm with chapati, poori or sambar-rice, rasam-rice or dal-rice combo or curd rice.

You can also pack it for lunch box or small trips with a side of poori, paratha or chapati or whole wheat bread.

The leftover potatoes can be used to make sandwiches, wraps or rolls. The recipe can be easily scaled up to make for more servings.

potato podimas recipe


If you are looking for more Potato recipes then do check:

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potato podimas recipe

potato podimas

Potato podimas is a quick and easy South Indian style spiced & tempered mashed potato curry.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Cuisine South Indian
Course Side Dish
Diet Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 2 to 3
Units

Ingredients

  • 2 large potatoes
  • ¾ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • ¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ teaspoon asafoetida powder (hing)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon grated ginger – optional
  • 1 green chili, chopped
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • 1 to 1.5 tablespoon oil
  • ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves
  • ½ teaspoon lemon juice or as required (optional)
  • some grated coconut (optional)
  • salt as required

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Rinse potatoes very well in fresh water. Then boil or steam the potatoes in a stovetop pressure cooker or steamer or Instant pot adding water as needed.
  • The potatoes should be completely cooked and of mashable consistency.
  • When the potatoes become warm or cool, peel them.
  • Mash them coarsely. You can also crumble the potatoes if you prefer. Keep the roughly mashed potatoes aside.

Making potato podimas

  • Heat oil in a pan. On low heat crackle the mustard seeds first. Then add the cumin seeds and let them splutter.
  • Add the green chilies, ginger, curry leaves, turmeric and asafoetida.
  • Fry for 8 to 9 seconds on low heat taking care that the spices don’t burn.. Add the mashed potatoes. Stir and mix well.
  • Add salt as needed and saute for 3 to 4 minutes on a low heat stirring at times.
  • Add the coriander leaves and saute for 1 to 2 minutes more on a low heat.
  • Instead of sauteing with coriander leaves, you can also garnish with coriander leaves.
  • Serve potato podimas hot or warm with chapati, poori or sambar-rice, rasam-rice or curd rice or dal-rice combo.

Notes

  • The recipe can be scaled as per your needs.
  • You can use any neutral-flavored oil.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
potato podimas
Amount Per Serving
Calories 241 Calories from Fat 72
% Daily Value*
Fat 8g12%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Sodium 605mg26%
Potassium 940mg27%
Carbohydrates 39g13%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 339IU7%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 0.2mg13%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.1mg6%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 60mg300%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 144mg175%
Vitamin E 3mg20%
Vitamin K 11µg10%
Calcium 60mg6%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 625µg156%
Iron 2mg11%
Magnesium 59mg15%
Phosphorus 138mg14%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Potato Podimas Post from the blog archives, first published in December 2013 has been republished and updated on December 2022.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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9 Comments

  1. I loved this! I have usually had plantain podimas (thanks to my Kerala roots) and this one (with lemon juice added) was an interesting dish!

    Your comment about urad dal had me laughing!5 stars

    1. thanks. in fact we do like urad dal in the tempering as the flavor it imparts. but for time being stopped, as i am having a root canal treatment being done.

  2. Always a comfort food!! You know, when I visit your site, I get ideas to make vegetarian food, so its podimas for dinner today!!