Radish and Potato Curry

Large daikon radish (called mooli in India) frequently appears in curries across south Asia.  In the following, inspired by a recipe presented in Yamuna Devi’s 1987 Lord Krishna's Cuisine (ISBN 978-0525245643), the daikon is shredded and then cooked with potato cubes in a korma-like sauce.  Don’t substitute breadseed poppies if you can’t find white poppy seed, as the flavor will be much too bitter.  Rather use almond meal or flour, which is perfectly acceptable and a traditional seed-based thickener in north Indian curries.   

2 tablespoons white poppy seed or almond meal
1” piece of fresh ginger root, skin scraped off and remaining root ground into a paste
2-3 hot green chiles, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons cilantro, washed and chopped, in all
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup water
¼ cup canola oil
½ teaspoon charnuska seed
1 teaspoon cumin seed
¼ teaspoon asafeotida resin, crushed to a powder
1 pound potato, peeled and cut into ¼ inch dice
½ pound daikon, peeled and shredded
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons lemon juice

Combine the poppy seed / almond meal, ginger paste, green chile, 1 tablespoon cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg with the water.  Puree in a blender until it becomes a smooth paste. 

Heat canola oil in a heavy pan over high heat until almost smoking.  Add in the charnuska and cumin seed and stir fry, stirring constantly, until they begin to brown, about 20 seconds.  Add in the asafoetida resin, stir fry for a few seconds, and then add in diced potatoes.  Sir fry for 2-3 minutes.  Add in the shredded radish and the herb paste.  Stir fry for another 3-4 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium-high and add in the ground turmeric and coriander.  Continue stir-frying until the potatoes are tender.  Add in a few tablespoons of water at a time when the spices begin to stick to the bottom of the pan.  Remove from heat and mix in the remaining chopped cilantro and lemon juice.

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