Potato Curry with Sesame Seeds

I really like this simple to make potato side dish. Be warned if you’re coming over to my place for dinner in the next little while you’ll be eating potatoes. Winter and potatoes go together very well as far as I’m concerned.

mustard-seed-potatoes

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Total cooking time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4 as a side dish

4 large potatoes
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chopped fresh chili
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper

1. Boil, steam or microwave the potatoes until tender. Cool, peel and chop. Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan over medium heat. Cook the cumin, coriander and mustard seeds for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

2. Add the sesame seeds; cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until golden. Add the turmeric, chilies, potatoes, lemon rind and juice. Stir until well combined and heated through. Season to taste, with salt and pepper.

Yum.

From The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook, Murdock books

Sesame Seed Drink/Breakfast

Ying, a lovely woman that I work with (from China) often drinks a dark liquid drink in the mornings at work. We played a guessing game as to what it was. I suggested Mushroom soup.

Bzzzzt. Wrong.

It was a traditional Chinese breakfast drink made up of black sesame, black rice, walnut and sugar.

sesamepaste.jpg

She brought a packet into work for me. I tried it as instructed (stirred in boiling water) it was nice although slightly too sweet for me. Being from the land of dairy I tried it again the next day for breakfast with milk instead. I also used only half the amount of recommended sesame seed paste. It was really sweet, rich and satisfying, the kind of drink I’d love to have on a cold night just before bed.

sesamedrink.jpg

It’s marketed as a health drink although I’m not convinced as sugar is the largest ingredient. On the plus side one serving contains 16% of your recommended daily intake of iron.

During the discussion at work about breakfast cereals we found out that Ying had never tried Weet Bix. I left this on her desk (with instructions!).

weetbix.jpg

The next day I found her dipping them into her milo : – )