Mom's Bouillabaisse

This simple potato curry was probably mom's impromptu preparation. She called it "bouillabaisse". The name that mom jovially referred to her last minute curry , just got stuck. Even today when I make it, I refer to it as Mom's bouillabaisse. I never bothered to check the real bouillabaisse recipe. But the other day, I saw Ina Garten preparing it on the food network. When she cut all the potatoes in circles, I realized that mom actually knew what she was talking about. (I should have known better!). Though mom's curry does not have any fish or chicken , it has those potato circles. It was an "aha" moment for me. :-D

Mom's Bouillabaisse
Onion-Potato-Bell Pepper Curry
Ingredients
4 medium potatoes, peeled & cut into thick circles
2 baby bellpeppers, cored & cut into thick circles
1 medium onion, peeled & cut into thick circles
3 baby toamtoes, cut into thick circles

salt to taste
1 tsp mild chili powder or paprika
1/2 tsp pavbhaji masala/kitchen king masala/garam masala
A pinch of sugar

Tempering
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp asafoetida
1/2 tsp turmeric powder

Serving suggestions -
pav
or brun pav

Method
1. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Add all the ingredients for tempering.
2. As the seeds splutter, add onion circles.
3. Saute it carefully, taking care not to break the circles.

4. As the onion gets soft, add potatoes and bell peppers. Saute for 30 seconds.

5. Add 2 cups water. Bring to boil.

6. Switch the gas to low. Cover and let it cook.

7. As the potatoes are almost cooked, add paprika, pav-bhaji masala, tomatoes, salt & sugar.

8. Let it simmer for sometime.

9. Make sure that veggies retain their circular shape.

Note-

1. You can make your own variation by adding garam masala, ginger-garlic paste etc. After all, it's an impromptu curry