Spicy Potato Noodles (Bataka Sev)

¼ cup chopped fresh green chile peppers

1 tablespoon coarsely chopped garlic

2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped

1 teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon ground turmeric

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

1 pound potatoes, peeled

3 cups water

3 ½ cups chickpea flour

2 ½ teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 tablespoons mustard oil

vegetable oil for deep frying

Combine the chiles, garlic, ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric, and 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a food processor or mortar and pestle and process into a fine paste. (Add a tablespoon of water if you need more liquid.) Set aside.

Place the potatoes in a saucepan with the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and cook the potatoes until they re soft and easily pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Reserve the cooking water.

Mash the potatoes while they re still warm, using some of the cooking water to get a smooth consistency. Mix in 1 tablespoon green chile paste, chickpea flour, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon turmeric, and mustard oil. Add enough reserved potato-cooking water as needed to make a soft dough. Taste the dough for heat level and seasoning (the dough will taste raw, but should be salty and spicy; the flavors will mellow slightly during cooking). Add more salt and chile paste if desired.

Heat the cooking oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Use a potato ricer (or sev machine, if you have one) to press noodles into the oil. Fry until golden brown and crisp, about two minutes. Use a skimmer or slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a paper towel-lined bowl. Repeat until all noodles are fried. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.