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Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes combines tender yellow potatoes with mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves and fresh mint.
These Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes starts with popping mustard seeds and fragrant curry leaves before the potatoes soak up the spices. A handful of fresh mint finishes the dish, and I’d love to know how you’d serve it.
Mustard seeds can transform a humble potato. Try these Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes and share your favourite pairing.

Why You Will Love and Enjoy Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes
- These potatoes prove that a humble bag of potatoes can do a lot more than fill a plate. They’re easy to prepare, packed with fragrant spices and finished with fresh mint for a lovely burst of flavour. Make them for a weeknight dinner, a family curry night or whenever plain potatoes feel a little boring.
- Full of flavour: Mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric and garam masala give every bite a delicious spiced taste.
- Easy to prepare: One pan and everyday ingredients keep the washing up manageable.
- Fresh finish: Chopped mint brightens the spices without overpowering the potatoes.
- Easy to pair: Serve alongside dhal, lentil curry, grilled meat, fish or flatbreads.
Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Indian Recipes
- Method: Easy Cooking
- Cuisine: Indian
Description
Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes are a simple, flavour-packed potato dish with warming spices, fragrant curry leaves and a fresh touch of mint. The potatoes cook until tender, soaking up all those lovely spices, making this a delicious side dish for curries, dhal, flatbreads or an everyday family meal.
Ingredients
- 5 medium yellow potatoes, peeled and diced into bite sized pieces
- 1 to 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 dried red chilies
- 8 to 10 curry leaves, or a small sprig
- 1/4 tsp hing (asafoetida)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp dhania jeera powder (ground coriander and cumin)
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup water, added as needed
- 1 small bunch fresh mint, finely chopped
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat 1 to 2 tbsp cooking oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds and 1 tsp cumin seeds. Once the mustard seeds begin to pop, add 2 dried red chilies, 8 to 10 curry leaves and 1/4 tsp hing. Stir briefly, taking care not to let the spices burn.
- Add 1 medium finely chopped onion and 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and the mixture smells fragrant.
- Add 5 diced yellow potatoes, 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp dhania jeera powder and salt to taste. Stir continuously for 2 to 3 minutes so the potatoes are coated evenly with the oil and spices.
- Pour in a small splash of water, cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 12 to 18 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the potatoes from sticking. Add a little more water whenever the pan looks dry. The potatoes should become fork-tender without turning mushy.
- Remove the lid for the final few minutes if there’s excess liquid. Let the potatoes cook until the remaining moisture has mostly evaporated and the spices cling to the pieces.
- Stir in 1 small bunch of finely chopped fresh mint. Taste and adjust the salt if needed. Remove the dried chilies before serving if you prefer a milder dish, and serve the potatoes warm.
Notes
Prepared, tried, and tested by Irene
Additional Information and Tips
- Which potatoes work best? Yellow potatoes are ideal because they become tender while generally holding their shape. Red potatoes are another good option. Starchier potatoes can break apart more easily, so stir them gently.
- Do I need to boil the potatoes first? No. Dice the raw potatoes into evenly sized pieces and cook them directly in the pan. They’ll absorb the spices as they soften.
- How do I prevent sticking? Use a non stick pan, start with enough oil to coat the bottom and stir every few minutes. Add a splash of water when the pan looks dry.
- How much water should I add? Start with a small splash and add more gradually as needed, up to around 1/2 to 3/4 cup. The potatoes should steam and soften without swimming in liquid.
- How do I know when they’re cooked? Pierce a potato with a fork. It should slide in easily, while the piece still holds its shape. Cooking time will vary with the size of the pieces and the type of potato.
- Why are the potatoes watery? Too much water or keeping the lid on for too long can leave excess liquid. Remove the lid towards the end and cook for a few minutes until most of the moisture evaporates.
- Why do the mustard seeds need to pop? Heating them in oil releases their distinctive flavour. Keep the heat at medium and add the other spices once they start popping so they don’t burn.
- Can I make the dish less spicy? Yes. Use one dried red chili instead of two, or leave them out completely. Keep the other spices for flavour without the extra chili heat.
- Can I substitute the ginger and garlic paste? Yes. Use 1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger and 1/2 tsp crushed garlic in place of 1 tsp ginger and garlic paste.
- What can replace fresh mint? Fresh coriander works well and should also be stirred in at the end. Dried mint is another option, but use less because its flavour is more concentrated.
- Can I leave out the hing? Yes. Hing adds a distinctive savoury note, but the potatoes will still taste good without it.
- Can I prepare the potatoes ahead? You can peel and dice them a few hours ahead. Keep them submerged in cold water in the refrigerator, then drain and dry them before cooking. Add the mint just before serving for the freshest flavour.
- How should I store leftovers? Cool the potatoes and refrigerate them in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Use them within 3 to 4 days.
- Can I freeze the cooked potatoes? Yes, although freezing may soften their texture or make them slightly grainy after thawing. It’s best to use them fresh.
- How should I reheat them? Warm them in a frying pan over medium-low heat with a small splash of water, covering briefly to heat them through. Uncover towards the end to remove excess moisture. You can also microwave them, stirring partway through.
- What should I serve with these potatoes? Try dhal, lentil curry, roti, naan, grilled chicken, fish or a fresh salad. They’re also a lovely addition to a South African Indian inspired meal.

Spiced Mint Yellow Potatoes turns everyday yellow potatoes into a fragrant, flavourful side with mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric and fresh mint. The potatoes cook until tender while absorbing the spices, making them an easy match for dhal, naan, curries or grilled meat. It’s a practical one pan dish for anyone who wants more flavour on the dinner table without a complicated cooking process.

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