Batatyacha Kees | Pan-fried Grated Potato with Peanuts
Aruna
Batatyacha Kees is a favoured Farali food or Vrat ka Khana in Maharashtra. This simple dish of pan-fried grated potato is flavoured with cumin, green chilli, and roasted & crushed peanuts.
On a fasting day like Ekadashi or Navratri, Batatyacha Kees is nourishing and filling.
Fill a large bowl (about 1 litre capacity) with water till it is 2/3 full.
Wash and peel 250 gms of potato and immerse in water immediately after you peel them.
Take each potato and grate it, and immediately add the grated potato to the water. I grate the potato such that it falls into the water.
Ensure that the grated potato is submerged in water and set aside till you need to use it.
Making the Danycha Kut or Roasted Peanut Powder
Over medium heat, in a wok or pan, dry roast 1/4 cup of peanuts till they start to pop.
Transfer to a plate to cool.
In a small grinder, pulse the peanuts to a coarse powder with some peanuts still intact or broken into large pieces. You can also crush them with a mortar and pestle.
Making the Batatycha Kees
In a heavy-bottomed kadhai, over medium heat, melt 1.5 tsp of ghee.
Add 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds and 1 tsp chopped green chillies.
Stir-fry for a few seconds till the cumin seeds start to change colour.
Take a handful of the grated potato out of water and squeeze it hard to remove the excess water.
Transfer the grated potato to the kadhai and mix well.
Similarly, squeeze out the water from the rest of the grated potato and add to the Kadhai.
Now add some Saindha Namak or regular salt, a pinch of sugar, and mix well.
Cook covered for 5 to 7 minutes till the potato soften. Stir at regular intervals to ensure the potato does not stick to the bottom of the kadhai.
Take off the heat.
Add the roasted peanut powder, and mix well.
Serve hot Batatycha Kees immediately with some cold dahi/yogurt on the side.