Potato Sesame Toast (Instant)

Having grown up in India, it is not rare for us to crave street-side food now and then. This was one such day. But I did not want to spend a lot of time making paav bhaji or ragda pattice or chutneys. Neither did I want to fry anything. I needed something super quick!
While digging through my pantry, I saw a box of instant mashed potatoes. I thought, why not try to re-create something street-food-like out of this! I could just adjust the water content to make it thicker. And then when I started thinking about potato snacks, I thought about 'Masala Toast'! Safest option where the consistency of the mixture prepared would not really make or break the dish.
Then just 10 mins later when the entire mixture was ready, I decided to beautify it with some toasty sesame seeds on top. And they were as cute and as tasty as they can be!

This dish makes a great party starter, especially if you have kids attenting it. It makes a quick breakfast dish or something awesome to indulge with tea or coffee in the evening. We even enjoy these as a full meal!

Hope you enjoy this super quick dish as much as we did!

Level: Easy
Serves: 12 discs

Ingredients:
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1.5 cups instant mashed potato powder/flakes
0.75 cups water
Oil
3/4 tsp mustard seeds
2 pinches asafoetida
5 to 6 curry leaves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilly powder or as per taste
3/4 tsp ginger garlic paste
3/4 tsp chaat masala
4 to 5 tsp fresh coriander leaves
2 tblsp sesame seeds
Salt to taste
Cheese, optional
Red chilli flakes, optional

Method:
Step 1 - In a small pot, heat 2 tblsp oil. Add the mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the asafoetida and the curry leaves. Saute for a few seconds.

Step 2 - Add turmeric powder. Stir and immediately add the onions. Do not let the turmeric burn. Saute till the onions turn light brown. Add the ginger garlic paste. Saute for 2 to 3 mins till you get rid of the raw smell of ginger and garlic.

Step 3 - Add the chopped tomatoes and red chilly powder. Saute for 2 mins. Add salt. Saute for 2 more mins till the tomatoes are soft and almost mushed up.

Step 4 - Add the mashed potato powder or flakes. Mix well. Let the onion, tomato mixture coat the flakes. This should take just a minute. Add water slowly. Stirring continuously.

Step 5 - Sprinkle the chaat masala and coriander leaves. Stir for a few seconds. Let this mixture cool.

Step 6 - Preheat oven to 350 deg. F. Take a small pan. Add the sesame seeds and dry roast them till they slightly change color. Keep aside.

Step 7 - Separate the english muffins into 2 discs. Smear the potato mixture on top. Sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top. Slightly press the sesame seeds into the potato. Bake in your preheated oven for 20 mins, till the base is crispy brown. Sprinkle some cheese and red chilly flakes on top if you would enjoy that.

Serve hot with some ketchup or chutneys if you like!

Tips:
You get English Muffins in the bread section in your supermarket. You may also find them in the cooler section, where they sell yogurt and butter.
But if you don't get hold of some, any kind of bread would work.

You will get the mashed potato flakes or powder in the aisle where you get boxed pancake or waffle mix.
It does not matter if you get hold of flakes or powder. You will anyway end up with a mashed mixture.
Every brand of mashed potato flakes needs a different quantity of water. So you might need to adjust the water a little. Keep adding it slowly, so you have control on how soft or thick you need your mixture to be.

Once I realized the convenience of the instant mashed potato flakes, I tried it for making potato bhaji for my dosas, to increase the quantity of my paav bhaji, when I had unexpected guests and also to make dabeli. It worked well on all three counts. YEY!

Enjoy!