Note that I have already peeled the potatoes and diced one!
Usually I make the curry paste myself, but didn't have the time this time so I bought some from my local Indian grocer when I picked up the mustard seeds:
Place a large, deep frying pan on medium heat and let it warm up.
First, wilt the spinach over low-medium heat. Do not cook the spinach, just wilt it. It looks like this when you stick it by handfuls into a pan:
You'll want to sprinkle teaspoonfuls of water into the pan between batches maybe, depending on your cookware. Don't use oils or anything else.
It looks like this when you are all done:
Note how the spinach is a rich green and just wilted but not shriveled, i.e. not cooked 3 I hope you've peeled your garlic and onion! Now roughly chop the onion and crush the garlic (if you're a poor college student, like me, with no budget and three pieces of kitchenware for cutting and eating, you accomplish this efficiently by placing the flat of a blade atop a single clove and tapping it slightly with a hammer until the garlic is crushed):
Next, pour the vegetable oil into the large frying pan and let it heat for about half a minute or so. Fry the crushed garlic and onion for 5 minutes:
Now we stir in the paste and mustard seeds and fry for 1-2 minutes:
Cook the Basmati rice as usual, and start now (you have to boil the water then stir in the rice, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes).
Dump the diced potatoes into the frying pan and pour the water (both cups) in. Then stir so everything's nicely coated and covered. The water should just top the potatoes:
Bring to the boil and let cook 20-25, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are almost tender (don't cook until they're done). You can test this by sticking a fork into one of the pieces of potato; if it slides very easily into the piece or the piece falls apart you've overcooked it.
Here's what it looks like when it gets to "the boil:"
The water will evaporate and be absorbed into the potatoes over time. It's about halfway done here:
At about the 20 or 25 minute mark most of the potatoes should be at least halfway visible:
Now we stir in the spinach:
And then the garbanzo beans:
Cook this for about 5-7 minutes, stirring a few times. While this is happening, you should be able to remove the rice from the simmer and let it begin to cool slightly.
Also, slice your lime(s) in half:
The final step before serving is to squeeze the lime juice in and then stir it:
The final dish, served over rice, looks something like this:
Now that you have learned how to make curried spinach and potato, please be sure to view these other vegetable dish recipes . Also, you will love these Thai recipes .
