Coconut Potatoes

A few weeks ago I wanted to make something with potatoes and coconut milk. A google image search produced this Indian casserole (after sifting through all the mashed sweet potatoes with coconut milk). I omitted the mushrooms, simply because I didn't have them, but otherwise, I made it as recommended. They turned out really good - spicy and creamy, and they go well with naan.


Here's how it was done:
You can get the chili-vinegar paste from an Indian grocery store, but it's a lot more fun to make it yourself. Just put the following ingredients in a food processor:

• 1/4 c dried red chilies
• 2 T wine vinegar
• 1 t tamarind paste
• 1/2 t cumin seeds
• 1/2 t peppercorns
• 1/2 turmeric
• 1 t roasted garlic
• a small chunk of ginger (~1 cm)
• a sprinkle of cinnamon

Puree everything, and your casserole is pretty much done!
Next you will need potatoes (I used about 6 medium to small potatoes), and some green onions (I used 4 big ones from our garden). Amounts may vary according to your needs and taste.

• Mix 1-2 T of the paste with a can of coconut milk, add some salt to taste.
• Layer potato slices in a casserole dish
• Sprinkle chopped green onions
• Pour 1/3 of chili-coconut mix
  
• Repeat twice more
• Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour

A few days ago I made a summer version of this dish -- a lot less baking time -- by dicing the potatoes, and cooking them in the microwave for about 5 minutes in a covered bowl with a few drops of water. Then I cooked them on the stove with the coconut-chili mix and the green onions in a large pan for a few more minutes. It was much faster, especially since I already had prepared chili paste.