A simple yet flavorful South Indian Potato Pepper Stir-fry which is super addictive with loads of black pepper and a simple tempering /tadka. Serve this easy vegan dish with Dals or sambar and rice or flatbreads or dosa. Or just eat up as is! So good. Gluten-free!

Oftentimes when sitting down to dinner we wish there was a more exciting, more zesty side dish to go with our main.
Enter this South Indian potato pepper stir-fry! If potatoes are your thing and you have run out of new exciting ways of making them in a manner that is simple and not overly time-consuming, this recipe is for you!

Pan-fried potatoes with a South-Indian twist that should interest you.

What lends this potato fry its special flavor are curry leaves, red onion, black pepper and mustard seeds. Mustard seeds are widely used in Indian cooking, and when roasted in hot oil, infuse the oil with a delicious flavor. To learn how to roast mustard seeds, follow my Indian cooking series on my tik tok or Instagram!

When cooking with them they are added at the start of the dish and fried until they being to pop and release their unique flavour and add a nutty taste to the dish.

More potato dishes:

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5 from 6 votes

Potato Pepper Fry

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Side

Cuisine: Indian

Keyword: black pepper potatoes, potato pepper stirfry, south indian potato

Servings: 4

Calories: 188kcal

Author: Vegan Richa

Ingredients

For the potatoes:

3 cups (450 g) quartered baby potatoes or 3 cups of cubed potatoes about 1 inch size cubes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon pepper flakes

For the tempering:

2 teaspoons oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 cups (160 g) of thinly sliced red onion 1 to 1.5 cups
2 cloves garlic minced
10 curry leaves
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon pepper flakes or use 2 dried red chilis
1/4 teaspoon salt
cilantro and lemon juice for garnish

Instructions

Boil the potatoes: Heat a large saucepan of water over medium high heat. Add the salt, turmeric, and pepper flakes and then add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Continue to cook until the potatoes are cooked to preference(9-12 Mins) You don't want the potatoes too soft but you want them cooked through. Drain the potatoes and set aside.
Make your tempering: Heat the oil over medium heat in a medium to large skillet
Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and wait for them to start popping.
Then add the onion and a good pinch of salt and cook until the onions are starting to get golden. (7-10mins, depends on your pan and stove)
Then add the garlic, curry leaves, and mix in and cook until the garlic is golden. 1-2 mins. Add splashes of water if the mixture is drying out too much.
Then add in your freshly ground black pepper and pepper flakes or red chilis and the rest of the salt and mix in.
Cook for half a minute then add the potatoes and toss well to coat.
Cover and Cook for another 2 minutes to crisp them up then take off heat. Garnish with cilantros and lemon juice.
Serve these potatoes with Dals or sambar and rice or flatbreads or dosa or with breakfast.

Video

Notes

Curry leaves are often sold frozen in your Indian or Asian grocery store. They are also sold dried but if you can get fresh that would be best

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Potato Pepper Fry

Amount Per Serving

Calories 188 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Fat 2g3%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Sodium 675mg29%

Potassium 838mg24%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Fiber 6g25%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 183IU4%

Vitamin C 90mg109%

Calcium 60mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Ingredients:

small potatoes – use Yukon or Russet
turmeric lends a gorgeous color to this dish
pepper flakes and black pepper add some heat
For the tempering, we fry mustard seeds along with sliced red onion, garlic, curry leaves and freshly ground black pepper
as well as dried red chilis
cilantro and lemon juice are added as a garnish

Tips:

Make sure to stir fry the potatoes till they are browned.
Curry leaves are often sold frozen in your Indian or Asian grocery store. They are also sold dried but if you can get fresh that would be best
Cannot find curry leaves?add bay leaf and add some lemon or lime zest to the dish. It will not be the same but it will lend a nice flavor to the dish.

How to make South Indian Potato Pepper Fry

Boil the potatoes: Heat a large saucepan of water over medium high heat.

Add the salt, turmeric, and pepper flakes and then add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Continue to cook until the potatoes are cooked to preference.

You don’t want the potatoes too soft but you want them cooked through. Drain the potatoes and set aside.

Make your tempering: Heat the oil over medium heat in a medium to large skillet

Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds and wait for them to start popping.

Then add the onion and a good pinch of salt and cook until the onions are starting to get golden.

Then add the garlic, curry leaves, and mix in and cook until the garlic is golden. Add splashes of water if the mixture is drying out too much.

Then add in your freshly ground black pepper and pepper flakes or red chilis and the rest of the salt and mix in.

Cook for half a minute then add the potatoes and toss well to coat.

Cover and Cook for another 2 minutes to crisp them up then take off heat. Garnish with cilantros and lemon juice and serve.

Serve these potatoes with Dals or sambar and rice or flatbreads or dosa or with breakfast.

Storage:

Cooked potatoes and other cooked vegetables can be safely kept in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days.

Potato Pepper Fry

More potato dishes:

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