Like the movie quote “English is a very phunny language” there are numerous sentences, words or expressions in all languages which always make us laugh in some way or the other. Something recently happened which I would like to narrate,

We had been to G’s cousin and being Kannada as the mother tongue everyone was chatting in Kannada. His cousin said to his wife “nanage chummi kodu” (give me chummi), I was so stunned that the cup of tea in my hand was about to fall. After some seconds looking at me he clarified “chummi” in his son’s (15 months old) language means Churmura

Similarly, In marathi when you grate something it is called ‘Kisane’, and the later is called ‘kees’, (not kiss but kees). There is a small conversation narrated by Sanjay Upadhye which if you listen you will fall off your chair laughing. It goes something like this:-

Scenario – A girl brings a boy friend home and her mother is in the house making batatyacha kees. They have a conversation where the mother and the daughter discuss and debate about serving this dish to the friend. The debate is who will do it.  As the conversation goes the audience burst out laughing as the mix of Kees and English Kiss and in the end the boy is terrified as the final dialogue comes out when the mom says “ tu tyala kees (kiss) nahi det ter me dete” ( If you don’t give (serve) him kees I will)..

Imagine this conversation as if you are the boy listening to a mother and a daughter fighting over who is going to kiss you..Make sure you hear this directly from Sanjay Upadhye, he is a renowned Marathi columnist.

So here is my recipe for batatyacha kiss..ohh sorry kees.

Ingredients –

Potatoes – 3 medium sized
Ghee/ Clarified Butter – 2 tablespoon
Jeera / Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
Roasted Peanut – 1 cup
Green chilies (chopped) – 2 teaspoons
Sugar – ½ teaspoon
Salt – to taste

Procedure –

• Wash the potatoes thoroughly. Do not peel them but directly grate them. Once all the potatoes are grated in a pan full of water wash this “kees” twice or thrice everytime changing the water.
• Deskin the roasted peanuts and ground or crush them coarsely.
• In a kadhai heat the ghee and add the cumin seeds. Once they splutter add green chilies and mix well.
• Add the kees and peanut crush, sugar and salt and sauté till the potato is cooked.
• Serve hot

Tips –

You may use sweet potato instead of normal potatoes for this preparation.

This dish is made during fast days.