Ratthali Sabzi (Spicy Sweet Potato Sabzi)

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Winters are the season of vegetables, especially ground vegetables. The Indian market is usually flooded with all kind of vegetables and fruits during winters. Scinentifically it is said that food absorbed by human body during winters gives the maximum good results. So it a double bonanza to grumble on our favourite vegetable during winters.

Sweet Potato is a ground vegetable and is native to South America, and was cultivated and domesticated there 5000 years ago. It is proved by experts that Sweet potota can be cultivated in any farming condition and it has few natural enemies. It hardly needs pesticide or fertilizers and hence can be said that its organic and good for health. China holds the record for producing largest numbers of sweet potatoes and some 100 varieties of sweet potatoes is believed to be cultivated in China. Apart from China Indonesia, India and Vietnam are the largest growers of sweet potatoes. Americans often include in the menu on the occasion of Thanksgiving.

Sweet pototo contains rich Carbohydrates, dietary fibre ,Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C , Vitamin B6 besides simple starch. As per study, Sweet potatoes ranks higher in nutritional value than any other vegetable, so do include it in your menu whenever the season is around. Despite having the word "Sweet" in it, it is considered beneficial food for diabetics as it helps to stabilize the blood sugar level and lowers the insulin resistance. Also all part of this plant is good as animal fodder.

In southern America, intrestingly apart from culinary purpose, it is belived to be used in making todye for cloth. By varing the proportions of the juices, many shades of pink, purple and black is obtained.

Sweet Potato comes in two colours yellow and Pink. India is pink sweet potato grower but the outer look of both varieties looks same. In Maharashtra, this ground vegetable is included among fasting food, where people consume it during fasting time. This particular dish can also be called a Maharashtrian style of cuisine and I hope you guys would enjoy having it.

Ingredients:

Sweet Potato - 1/2 kg

Red Chilli Powder - 1 tablespoon
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon

Asafoetida - 1/4 teaspoon

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Salt - to taste

Oil - 1 tablespoon.

Method:

Wash the sweet potatoes nicely under water and let it dry.
The skin of Sweet potato is hard hence many find it difficult to peel it. But it is not impossible even so either you can peel take a knife and cut off the skin or just pressure cook it over flame without whistle for 5-7 minutes. It helps to remove the skin with ease and the cooking time would be saved while making the sabzi.
Cut the Sweet Potato into cubes and keep aside.
Take a deep bottom kadai and keep it over flame. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and heat it.
Add Asafoetida and mustard seeds to it and allow the seeds to crackle.
Then add the Sweet Potato cubes . Add water to it , add water till the sweet potoes gets covered by it.
Cover the kadai with a lid and allow it to cook over medium flame for 7-8 minutes.
Open the lid and stir softly.
The water must be still left, but dont worry since the that water would make the sabzi softer while it is being cooked.
Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt to it and stir well.
Now don't stir the sabzi often and cover the lid and allow to cook for some 2-3 minutes over low flame.
Open the lid and check. If the water is still left then just cook it in open without a lid for further 2-3 minutes.
The sabzi is ready . Serve hot. This sabzi needs no Garnishing and needs very simple ingredients which is easily available at home.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes.
Cooking Time: 15 minutes.
Serves: 4 persons.
Shelflife: 1 day. Best Fresh.
Serving Suggestion: Serve hot with Rice and gravy. It also goes well with Puri.

Note:

Choose good Sweet Potatoes for this cuisine. It can chooses easily , just take care that it doesn't has any patchy marks on the outer side.
The skin of this vegetable is hard. So either cut it off with knife or just steam it over pressure cooker for 5 minutes without a whistle which makes it easy to peel the skin easily.
Don't worry if you had added more water while cooking. Starchy vegetables like Sweet potatoes, Potatoes and Yam absorbs all the water and keeps the cuisine soft.
Don't Keep stirring often while cooking or else the vegtable will end up being mashed. We just need it to be soft while it looks good and pleasing to our eyes while is one of the basic senses which checks the food.