BATATE SONG

Batate Song is a very spicy and mouth watering Konkani dish prepared using potatoes, onions and red chilies. This dish is vegan and gluten free.

Batate means potato in konkani. I really have no clue regarding the real meaning or origin for the word song in the name of this recipe, Batate Song. I would like to believe it is different from English word song 🙂 However it looks like when one tastes bate song, the spiciness of the chile combined with sourness of the tamarind makes the taste buds of people sing to the tunes of this flavorful dish. And there is a joke in our community that Konkanis are blessed with special powers, because they can sing a song, as well as eat a song.

Rice is a staple in most konkani homes. Therefore konkani dishes that are served as a side with rice are mostly spicy , although not fiery hot. To tame the spiciness a souring agent in the form of tamarind, tomatoes or bilimbi (Avverhoa bilimbi) is added. The combination of sourness and spiciness makes it taste great and thus the dishes from this cuisine are very popular.

This dish has always been my favorite since childhood and was one of the few dishes I was comfortable preparing when I started cooking. It requires very basic ingredients from your kitchen and this beautiful dish is ready in no time.

Batate song is generally served with a combination of dal or rasam and steamed rice. It can also be served with South-Indian breakfast recipes, bread recipes and more. This dish is less spicier and tastier when it is a day old.

There are two ways in which this dish is prepared. I like both the ways. I will post the second method sometime soon.

Method 1 : Prepared using red chile powder and tamarind. This is quicker and easier.
Method 2 : Prepare a smooth paste using dry red chilies, coriander seeds and tamarind and then use it in the recipe.

Preparation time : 25 minutes
Serves : 3

Ingredients for Batate Song

Potatoes - 2
Big onion - 1
Tamarind - small ball
Vegetable oil / Coconut oil - 1 ½ tbsp
Red chile powder - 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves chopped - 5 strands
Salt - to taste

Steps to prepare Batate Song

Step I

• Pressure cook the potatoes, peel them and roughly mash it into chunks OR peel the skin of potatoes, cut them into cubes, microwave for 5 minutes and roughly mash them.
• Roughly mashed potatoes blends well with the spices in this dish, and gives the dish its thick consistency.

Step II

• Finely chop the onions. I have used one big onion. If using medium size then chop and add 2 onions in the recipe.
• Heat oil in a pan. Add the onions and saute till it becomes golden brown in color for about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the tamarind and saute it for another 2 minutes so that it softens and blends with the gravy while cooking.
• Now add the red chile powder, and saute it for another 1 minute.
• Add the mashed potatoes, water for desired consistency, and salt to taste and bring it to a nice boil. This dish tastes best when it has a medium-thick consistency.
• Now add the coriander leaves and switch off the flame.
• Batate song is now ready. Serve hot and enjoy.

Tip:

• This dish tastes the best when its served spicy. But if you cannot handle the heat then vary the amount of dry red chile powder accordingly.
• You can substitute tamarind with tomato.

Today I have served it with rasam. But I will give you some of my favorite accompaniments for this dish. Check out the recipes below:

• pepper dal
• garlic dal
• ginger dal
• plain dosa 
• neer dosa 
• shevai / idiyappam