Papeta par Ida

There are days that seem to never end. Today was one of those days. It become excruciatingly so when I realized that I had put it off too long and I really did need to buy Medha some new pants. She's been going around looking like a tangewali. When used to describe someone who has nothing to do with a horse, it means that their trousers or pants are too short. At least, that's how it's used in my family! While we waited for her Science Project pictures to be printed out, we went to the Kohl's next door to remedy this terrible oversight on my part. In less than a half hour, armed with several fleece pants that she needed and matching jackets that she didn't need, we joined the line at the cashier. One woman was being served, next in line was a woman and her daughter and then us. 10 minutes and our status hadn't changed. It was the same story in the other lines else I would have jockeyed to another cashier. Another 10 minutes and Medha couldn't bear it anymore.

Let's go, Mumma! I don't care if my pants are short! I have enough for this week. Maybe we can do this another time.

Ah! I have raised her well! I threw the clothes down and walked out of there, hand in hand with my daughter. Both of us feeling immensely relieved! How do they do it?! I mean on a weekday, a schoolnight? How do they shop for teeny tiny stuff that no-one needs? Stuff that will be put away in a drawer or returned? Just because it's on sale?!

We were so hungry that we stopped to eat some overly processed but delicious and juicy kosher hot dogs at Sam's, picked up our photographs and came home! What I really wanted to eat was papeta par ida - eggs over potatoes - but there was none leftover from the batch I had made on Sunday.

Papeta par ida, also pateta par ida, is a Parsi dish that is quite like a fritata - spicy potatoes that have been doused with well-beaten eggs. I've had this for breakfast, brunch and lunch at a Parsi friend's home so I am not entirely sure when this is served. We usually make a brunch out of it as it is very filling and rather satisfying! A Parsi friend of mine had once told me that my papeta par ida was as good as her mother's!

Papeta par ida

Eggs over spicy potatoes



  • 4-5 medium red potatoes, diced into 1 inch pieces
  • 2-3 tbsp oil
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • pinch asafetida
  • 2 small Thai chillies, chopped into two pieces each OR 3-4 long finger hot chillies, chopped into 1 inch long pieces
  • 6-7 kadipatta leaves
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger (optional)
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
  • 3 whole eggs and 3 additional egg whites

  1. Heat the oil in a saucepan.
  2. Add mustard seeds and when they pop add asafetida, followed by the chillies, kadipatta, turmeric powder.
  3. Then add the diced potatoes and some water, if you decide to use less oil.
  4. If you are using ginger, add that too. Followed by salt.
  5. Cover and cook on a medium flame until the potatoes are done.
  6. Sprinkle the chopped cilantro all over the potatoes. Mix it in if you wish. I like to leave it on top.
  7. Add salt to the eggs and beat till they are nice and fluffy and pour into the saucepan.
  8. Cover for a few minutes to allow the top layer to cook.
  9. When the eggs have set, your papeta par ida is ready to be served!
  10. Serve with toast, plain parothas or naan.

Notes:
  • Take as many potatoes as you will need to make a nice layer of potatoes in your pan. I usually take one extra potato cos I lose about as much while they are cooking. Like so:
  • If you would rather use 6 whole eggs that really is up to you. I usually take one whole egg and one egg white per person - yes, Anita, that extra yolk goes down the drain.
  • The other famous version of this Parsi dish is bhida par ida or bhida par idu. Eggs over spicy okra which is also very addictive.


We usually cut this up into quarters, with one quarter reserved for the hungry little girl as a quick healthy after-school snack.

21 comments:

Srivalli said...

LO..that looks delicious..btw how do you pronounce that?

Kitt said...

Damn, it's 1 a.m. and now I'm starving!

What's your address? I'm coming over.

Rachna said...

Ek tho... was so nice to know you've brought up medha well!! lol... i wud be proud if my kid said that too heeeee... doosra...i love the papeta par ida....will make it this weekend with bhatura...chalega na?

Pelicano said...

That looks totally yum! I've never made these but gosh, tempting- the okra version especially so!

You can only have so much patience before it turns into an absurd waste of time. You have a nice daughter to be selfless like that- another day, another time. She'll do well in life! Unless we move the discussion to payasam... :-D

indosungod said...

Manisha, I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one sending my kid to school looking like a "tangewali"! :)

And the Papeta par Ida looks delicious. Love eggs love them potatoes too!!

Saju said...

That looks sooooo delicious. I definately will be making it for breakfast on Sunday moring.

Anita said...

[OMG, she can read my mind! Really!...so I can't say anything about the poor yolk that went to utter waste...sigh]

Yes, 6 whole eggs, and this dish is right up my ally - eggs and potatoes - what could be better! Though I did make a very healthy poached egg over winter veggies last year that you may remember...it needs just the one egg (with its yolk) - you try that - I am definitely trying this.

I love to shop during sales but don't get to... :-(

Anita said...

...you could make mayonnaise with it y'know - the real kind?

Be like that only - let the sink eat it (what is that thing called - the man inthe sink?)...

Swaroopa said...

looks gr8!! hard to say he name though..

Kribha said...

Looks very nice and delicious.

Bong Mom said...

I love that name, "papeta par Ida"...Papeta means potatoes...doesn't it sound like "papita" aka papaya ?

Sales baffle me...I feel a guilt that I am not buying stuff at cheaper prices (which is false, I have bought shirts from Kohls cheaper at non-sale days) and yet I don't want to drag myself and go and rummage for the unthinkables

Seema said...

Lovely dish - though i cannot prounce the name without struggle!! Never heard of this, but looks a perfect healthy breakfast.. minus all the yolks :-)

Indian Food Rocks said...

Can't pronounce the name? You guys have to be kidding me right? You roll your tongues over what seems unpronounceable otherwise! :-D It's said: puh-pay-tah purr eeda or puh-teh-tah purr eeda.

Kitt, drive to Louisville and then follow your nose to the house that smells of Indian food.

Rachna, bhatura will rock! I wouldn't cos I can't afford to but yeah, why not!

Pel, potatoes and okra, both my faves! This is really um, delightful, if it is extra-spicy.

And, she has no patience for payasam. Yet.


ISG, I bought her new clothes just recently. We really need to do that evening of exchange at school where families bring lightly used clothing and you can pick up whatever you want!

Saju, you will love it!

Anita, better the yolk down the drain than in my arteries. Moderation allows me to eat one egg yolk and get protein from two egg-whites. Besides, I have always preferred egg-whites over yolks!

Shop during sales? Are you crazy? The only reason I went was that the planets had aligned but not completely: she needed pants and I had a 15% off coupon. You should see the crap they sell as clothes. Terrible tees for $20, which have been marked down from $40. I am lazy so I go to one store and that's it. I might try Kohl's online now that I know what she needs and pay shipping instead. But what a colossal waste of almost an hour on a schoolnight. There should be express lanes for people with kids, doing emergency and essential shopping.


No mayo for us. I could have made some mousse though. And I have to be gentle with the man-in-the-sink. He threw up on potato peels over the weekend. Luckily I was not to blame. I asked the technician before sending them down. Poor man-in-the-sink. He choked and there was an icky mess under my sink. You guys only saw the WinterSkate and sunset part of my Sunday. See how positive I am? I will live long, ya?

Swaroopa, roll your tongue. Then forget about it and check out the phonetic help at the top of this comment. :-D

Kribha, thank you!

Sandeepa, you're right. Papeta means potatoes but the sound in the middle is 'pay' not pee. Hee! Hee! Sales cost me in time because there is always that one woman who bought every trinket in the store and she's in front of me in the line. We were so focused yesterday but it backfired. I mean what was I thinking! Going shopping at 4 pm on a schoolnight for stuff we need!

Seema, call it eggs over potatoes and be done with it. No-one will mind or care.

And not minus all the yolks although you could do that. I keep one egg yolk from every two eggs I use.

Anita said...

You really should try kheer, you know. It's time.

Vilma Bergstrom said...

Can I come over to your house one day? That potato dish just looks os yummy! I want to make them but I do not have any of the spices or the leaves that you talked about. We should go shopping together sometime.

Mandira said...

this looks delicious. spicy too... perfect for the weather!

bee said...

when people rave about the spanish omelette (tortilla with potatoes and eggs), i think to myself, they haven't tasted papeta par eda.

Shilpa said...

Heee...and I was feeling so sad that we never shop when there is sale. I hate to shop when there is crowd. And I am the one with more patience among me and hubby :). I was feeling bad yesterday to waste one coupon we had and we could not go for shopping.

Off I go to make Papeta par ida :)

musical said...

Hey, Medha is a really cool girl :). You indeed have raised her well. Standing in the lines is not my cup of tea either. Papeta par eda looks really good! I don't enjoy eggs, but if you make this for me, i'll try for sure :).

Laavanya said...

Oh this looks too tempting.. I've already started dreaming about tomorrow's breakfast. I would probably be picking at it with a fork too before it's fully ready! :D

Siri said...

Papeta par Ida ( I find it difficult to pronounce just like Sri..) whatever looks delish Manisha! its indeed a feast to eyes for an eggeterian like ME!

~ Siri