Aloo mirchan, (potatoes and peppers)

One of my firm favourites, it is quick, goes with everything and the kids love it too!

We call all chillis, 'mirch', peppers are called 'shimila mirich'.

I tend to cook this dish as vegan. You can also make this Sathvick, by removing the onion and replacing it with a bit more ginger.  Again you can also use this as a side dish for an English meal to introduce a bit of spice!

Ingredients for serving 4

• 2-3 peppers, any colour
• 2 medium sized peeled potatoes chopped in even pecies (waxy potatoes are better, new potatoes are lovely just half them, avoid powdery ones)

• 3tbsp Light olive oil 

• 1/2 Chopped onion ( I like to use red onion)

• 1/2" fresh ginger peeled and finely chopped/ grated

• 1 tsp Cumin/ Jeera

• 1/2 tsp Oregano seeds/Ajowan

• 1 -2 fresh green chilli's chopped (the more you put in the hotter it gets) - Optional
• 2 fresh tomtoes chopped or 1/4 tin tomatoes - optional

• 1-2 tsp Garam masala

• 1tsp Turmeric/ Haldi

• 1-2 tsp salt

• Hand full of fresh chopped coriander

Directions

1. Add your oil, set the pan at a slow heat. Add your cumin seeds and ajowan, when they begin to crackle add your onion.
2. Cook the onion till it is soft and then add your ginger and chilli, stirring frequently.
3. Continue to cook this till the ginger is brown too, if the ginger starts to stick to the pan just add a couple of tea spoons of water and stir until it comes free.
4. Once the mix is caramel coloured, add your dry spices and salt, you have now made your base (masala). Add tomatoes and cook for a few minutes.
5. Add your peppers and combine the masala and vegetables, cover and cook on a medium heat for 5mins and then turn down to a lower heat for about 20mins or until the potatoes are cooked and peppers are soft.
6. Add the chopped coriander and serve as a main or side dish with roti, naan, or rice of your choice. We had it with Moongi daal tonight and roti, it was yummy!