i use the pressure cooker for boiling potatoes. How is this done in the microwave? How much water needs to be added and do they have to be covered?

I boil potatoes with their skin on, just like most Indians!

For 6-7 potatoes;

if you have a microwave steamer, place 5-6 medium sized potatoes in it with 1/4 cup of water at the base. Microwave on full for 8 minutes, check and if needed give another 3-4 minutes. They should 'give' a little when pressed.

If you do not have a steamer, place them in a plastic bag, like a sandwich bag, add 2-3 tbs. water, close bag except a tiny hole for steam to escape (otherwise bag will blow up) and microwave at full as above.

Leave to stand for a few minutes, because they will continue to cook for a few minutes.

Mamta

Thank you Mamta. Now i understand. I was just wondering how on earth potatoes could be cooked in the microwave and now i know how! i was looking at your bathua recipes (i asked the sabziwala for 1 bunch of bathua for raita and he sent me 1 kg and i dont know what to do with the excess)and came across the microwaved boiled potatoes. I went off my bathua search and got lost in the potato puzzle! Your site is very precious and i refer to it very often for traditional mother's cooking recipes. Thanks again.

Hello Vaisahli

If you have too much bathua (you lucky thing!), more than you can use, you can always microwave steam it and freeze it for another day. Boiled/steamed Saags freeze well. here in UK, I try growing it in my garden, but it doesn't do too well. It grows here wild but no one eats it and it is difficult to go picking it in fields!

From you post it looks like you live in India. If you do, and you are looking for microwave steamer, Cutting edge do very nice ones shopping.sify.com/microwave-cook-serve-set/cutting-edge/appliances/kitchen-appliances/cookware/microwave/CUT040920073.htm

I don't get any commission from them ;-), I think they are just so sturdy and nice. I specially like their milk boiler (the tall pot with lid in the picture), it saves me so much in washing up pans.

You will work out times of steaming different vegetables soon. My sister in Noida part-steams most of her vegetables, before cooking them the usual way in a karahi. It saves her so much time and the flavours are not lost in overcooking.

Mamta