Semolina Potatoes

Posted on by Anushruti
Semolina Potatoes

There was a quaint, hip restaurant that I used to frequent, located in one of the trendy suburban locales of Mumbai, whenever I happened to be in that area. Why I stopped going there is another story altogether. These potatoes were a part of their menu. The semolina formed a beautiful crust on the potatoes, which left a lingering taste. When I had a conversation with the chef there, I discovered that the ingredients were few, the procedure easy and the result exotic!

I always look for interesting ways to cook potatoes. I have many favourite potato memories, right from a simple yet divine baked potato topped with delicious sour cream and herbs whilst on a tube rail from Frankfurt to Zurich, the intricate aloo kebabs prepared by my favourite north Indian chef, Sharief at the ITC Grand Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai, ajji’s (grandmother’s) aloo ras palya (cubes of potatoes floating in a yummy watery gravy) and a few from the culinary adventures in my very own kitchen. It’s marvelous that potatoes can turn from a simple humble dish to an exclusive piece de resistance on the dining table.

Most people I know love potatoes. One person who doesn’t very much approve of them is my father. When I included semolina potatoes (a version of the potato dish of the suburban restaurant mentioned above) in the menu when he was visiting us for dinner on one of his business trips to Mumbai, I was taking a big risk. I was happy to note that he went in for a second helping. Today, when I decided to make semolina potatoes again, I also thought of inaugurating my Le Creuset frying pan lying in the cupboard.

Semolina Potatoes Recipe

Semolina comes in various sizes. It is important to use the small sized or fine variety for this dish. You can use 3 tbsp olive oil and skip the butter if you wish, but I love to use the butter at times for the colour and taste it gives the potatoes.

Ingredients:

2 cups (500ml) water + 1 tsp salt for cooking potatoes

500gm/1 lb baby potatoes

3 tbsp fine semolina

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1  1/2 tbsp butter

½ tsp paprika flakes or red chili powder (use more to make it spicier)

2 tbsp chopped coriander (cilantro)

1 tsp salt

Method:

In a pan, bring the water to a boil and add in the salt and scrubbed potatoes and cook till tender until the potatoes can be pierced with a fork or a knife. Cool and peel the potatoes.

While the potatoes are cooling dow, in a frying pan or skillet on the lowest flame, roast the semolina until golden brown. This should take about 3 to 4 minutes.  Keep aside.

In the frying pan or skillet, heat the olive oil and butter on a medium flame and add in the paprika flakes and coriander leaves. Stir in the potatoes and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until they change colour to a nice light brown. Sprinkle the semolina and salt and mix properly. Continue cooking for a minute or two. The semolina forms a lovely crust over the potatoes. Serve hot.

Serves 3 to 4

Recipe updated on 17.12.2014

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36 thoughts on “Semolina Potatoes”

  2. Hi Anu,
    We just finished our Pongal lunch and these semolina potatoes still make me want to hog ten Le Creuset pans of these. Cheers!

    MJ

  6. you have a lovely space here, and I am glad to discover it.
    Your recipes & pictures are really beautiful, thanks for sharing

  7. Using rawa to add the crunch in a subzi is entirely new to me. Very simple & I bet tasty (yeah who does not like potato?) recipe. thanks a lot for sharing. i'm definitley going to try this out.

  18. Hi Anushruti, do I need to peel the potatoes?
    Also, I have a packet of Marks & Spencer's Roast Potato Seasoning. The packet says 'sprinkle over parboiled potatoes before roasting in the oven'. (Of course, I won't be using an oven) And yes, the durum wheat semolina is a major ingredient in this seasoning!

    Can I possibly use the seasoning in this recipe? If so, how do you recommend?

    Pl do reply urgently since I intend to make these Semolina Potatoes tomorrow itself!

    Thank you!
    Manali

  21. Isn't it basilico where you get these potatoes? I love them. Stumbled upon this whie i was searching for upma recipe. Please upload an upma recipe no. I love your recipes.

  23. Prepared this lovely baby potato dish 2day for lunch, it not just turned out tasty but looks absolutely tempting n beautiful. For me its very important for dish to look b'eautiful first n your food blog is full of such dishes which makes me wanna try more n more
    Thanks 4 these beautifuuul n tempting recipes

    I however did the seasoning with cumin,slit green chilly, curry leaves n finely chopped mint leaves .

  26. Hi Anushruti,

    I had made this dish today and was a hit in the family. I loved the taste too. I did not have fresh coriander with me and substituted it with oregano. The potatoes were crispy and spicy from outside and soft from inside. Thank you for sharing such a simple yet delicious recipe.

    I love your recipes, photography and write-ups.

  28. Hello Anushruti,

    Wish your family and you a great 2015!
    Read your most recent post. Liked it. My aim to cook well crossed paths with ur blog and this is a acquaintance that I value and come back to frequently. The first recipe that I read on your blog was of red velvet cupcake. Although I am yet to try it. It's one of the good aspects of internet…allows access to treasure troves of knowledge,one of them being your blog!
    Made semolina potatoes for lunch. Noticed butter in ingredients. However did not see it in under Method. Read and reread. Am I missing it? I used both olive oil and butter. Did not have fresh coriander leaves. So substituted it with kasuri methi. I liked the texture.
    Thank you sharing the recipe.

    Best Wishes,
    nageshwari

  29. nageshwari: Thank you for your valuable words. Butter is optional actually and this is an updated recipe. Will make the required changes in the recipe as well.

  30. Hi Anushruti,

    I confess that after watching your video on semolina potatoes, I was so eager to try it out. As fortune would have it, I found baby potatoes in the vegetable market and made this today for my family. Very happy to report that they loved it. Feeling thrilled! Thanks… I eagerly look forward to more of your videos.

  33. Can I try this with regular potatoes also? I understand baby potatoes come out better….but will it be ok with regular ones too? Probably cut in 4?

  35. Great recipe- fast easy, not much cleaning after, I live in Ireland where potatoes are one of basic, all year available veggies. I'm not a fan of semolina but mixing in with some chilly totally changed it's taste. I would never think of combination like that, but here I'm, stuffed and happy after having them for lunch. I love your blog and looking forward to try more of your delicious recipes.

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