I was very inspired by a “Tomato Aloo” dish that I tried at Whole Foods today. It was a tomato base with chunks of potatoes cooked with lots of spices and I quickly decided that I wanted to try recreating it for dinner. So I looked up a couple recipes and they all seemed to include spices I didn’t have and to be honest, I didn’t have the patience to pour through recipes and follow them. So, I decided to make up my own…I added an “f” and switched things up to bring you an original recipe, “Aloof Tomatoes”….
What you’ll need:
4 large tomatoes, chopped
4 red potatoes
1/2 sweet potato
1/2 onion
5 large mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped fennel root
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 tbsp. Coconut Oil
Spices:
1 tsp.sea salt
1 tbsp, curry powder
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
Put 1/2 sweet potato and red potatoes in microwave for 3.5 minutes. You could legitimately cook these by baking beforehand if you find yourself with unlimited time on your hands…
In a large skillet sautee onion, fennel, garlic and mushrooms with oil on medium high for a couple minutes then add tomatoes. Turn heat down to medium and cook for 5 minutes.
While tomatoes are cooking, take red potatoes and sweet potatoes out of microwave, chop into wedges, and fry on medium high without oil, stirring frequently for a couple minutes. After a couple minutes they should be cooked and should also be slightly charred (this is a good thing in this case). Turn heat off and let sit while you…
Take cover off tomatoes and drain some of the liquid, leaving just a little liquid 
coating the bottom of the pan. Add potatoes and spices (salt, chili powder, curry powder and black pepper) and simmer on medium low for a couple more minutes just for the hell of it (those tomatoes are rather aloof, after all…) Garnish with the green part of the fennel “leaf”
The charred potatoes balance out the sweetness of the tomatoes in this dish. The fennel has a slight spiciness to it that compliments the light use of chili powder and curry powder.
A cooked tomato dish like this is high in lycopene, which has been shown to decrease inflammation and decrease atherosclerosis. Fennel also has many benefits, including supporting healthy intestinal function, as does the Turmeric in curry powder, along with many anti-inflammatory benefits.
The potatoes in the dish add a higher carbohydrate content ideal for helping to keep those glycogen stores stocked. I paired it with a grilled sirloin steak, grilled zucchini and a large garden salad (and a nice glass of red wine…). A labor day dinner without too much labor!
RUNNING ON FULL 