Sweet and Salty Potatoes

Posted by Wayne (Melbourne, Australia) on 28 September 2008 in Food & Cuisine.

When I was a young kid...my neighbour would look after me from time to time when the need arose. She used to cook me this dish that I loved and constantly craved for as a kid. A couple of years passed and my neighbours eventually moved away.

So...I did what I had to do...recreate the dish purely from taste memory alone. I am pleased to say that I was able to do it rather successfully...and it has since brought me back to a very fond period in my life many times over.

It always amazes me how food is such a connective and cohesive vehicle for a myriad of things...not least the formation of whole community identities and practices. Food such as this dish give new life to old memories and even as I recreate this dish for others (and hopefully my kids in the future)...I become part of the ever-renewing cycle....forming new food-centric traditions and sense-memories. It's a beautiful thing.

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Comments (8)

Tricia from Melbourne, Australia

yes this was YUM. (: (:

28 Sep 2008 6:48am

@Tricia: glad you liked it

Tse Min from Melbourne, Australia

fooodd...!!!! when's my turn?

29 Sep 2008 12:53am

MarziaFrank from italy, Italy

mmh...it seems yummy

29 Sep 2008 8:43am

@MarziaFrank: haha it certainly was

tyan from Singapore, Singapore

that is wonderful childhood memories isnt it?YOu are quite a sentimental person arent you?:) eh now how about the recipe?:)

3 Oct 2008 1:59am

@tyan: Yes I think I am pretty much a very sentimental person.

As for the recipe...its all done by taste. The way I replicated it was to boil the peeled potatoes (whole) in boiling water for about 6 or so minutes. I then placed them in ice cold water to cool down. Once they were cooled down, I cut them up into tiny bite sized cubes (kid-sized bites that is). Next I heat up some oil (say about 1.5 table spoons)...into which I fry the potato cubes...I then add a touch of light soy sauce...and then a good dose of dark soy sauce...and a good sprinkling of caster sugar (roughly a table spoon for say 2 potatoes)...stirring furiously all the while....before serving while the pan is still on heat...I throw in 1 teaspoon of caster sugar and grind some sea salt over the whole thing. Toss through once more and then serve immediately. Note...the whole thing will be quite hot so be careful not to burn those tongues. I recommend just pairing it with rice or just eating it by itself. (Due to the amount of sugar and oil and salt involved...I also recommend doing this on an infrequent basis....back in the day heart disease and diabetes were unheard of =S)

tyan from Singapore, Singapore

hahaha,that is very funny,but thanks for the recipe,looks quite easy but sure sounds delicious!:)

5 Oct 2008 8:46am

@tyan: Yeap it's fantastic =)

aLv|N from Melbourne, Australia

UNCLE, UPDATE ler... please? haven't seen u! when are we catching up?

p/s: are u leaving? NY or UK?

13 Oct 2008 4:43am

r o n from Australia

YUMMMM

2 Nov 2008 9:33am

@r o n: glad you enjoyed the photo =D

roentarre from Melbourne, Australia

Such a yummy looking desert!

27 Nov 2008 3:45pm

@roentarre: It's actually a starter/side dish =) its misleading due to it sweetness but that's primarily because its a dish for kids =D...think along the lines of McDonald's Fancy Ketchup =D

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Canon EOS 400D
1/60 second
F/2.5
ISO 800
50 mm