Kooka Song (Spicy Chinese Potato Curry)

Kooka Song is a very spicy dish. In konkani, Kooka means Chinese potato. Chinese potato is a seasonal vegetable and not known to many. It is smaller in size when compared to potatoes and they has a very distinct smell, when cooked. Many konkani dishes are made using this vegetable.

This time when I went home, my amma made Kooka song as it was my favorite. I helped her in making it as well as tried to click pictures, so that I can post it:-) My amma makes very tasty Song/saung. Try to make this spicy curry using these Chinese potatoes (For people staying in US, try to find the frozen Chinese potato available in Indian Stores (not all though)). If not, you can always substitute it with potato. The Chinese potato looks like this-

Ingredients:

• Chinese Potato/Kooka*, cooked and chopped- 1 1/2 cup
• Onion, small sized- 3-4
• Roasted dry red chilli- 7-8
• Grated Coconut, fresh/frozen- 1/4 cup
• Tamarind- A small piece (Gooseberry sized)
• Oil- 4-5 tsp
• Salt- To taste

*You can substitute potato for chinese potato. The procedure remains the same for both.

Procedure:

Wash the chinese potato and then pressure cook it in a cooker for 2-3 whistles. Add salt to taste while cooking. Once it cools down, remove its peel and chop it into bite size pieces.

Chop the onions. Heat oil in a kadai and then add chopped onions. Start frying it on a medium flame until it turns slightly brown.

While it is frying, prepare the masala. 

For Masala- Grind grated coconut along with red chillies, tamarind, salt to get a fine pate. Add water as required.

After frying the onions, add the prepared masala to it. Mix it well. 

Then add the cooked chinese potato pieces and mix well.

 Add water to get desired thickness of the gravy.

Bring it to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, continue heating for 4-5 minutes, to remove the rawness of the masala. Turn off the heat. Kooka song is ready!!

Serve it hot as a side dish to rice, dosa, idli etc. Above measurement serves 3-4 people.