Potato is one such ingredient which is found in every nook and corner of the world. My love affair with Potatoes goes back long way. As a kid, I loved eating Aloo Parathas, as a teenager french fries and as I grew so did my love for potatoes. I always have potatoes in my pantry and here are few of my favourite potato dishes that you should try at your home.
Aloo (aaloo) means potato and Paratha is a flatbread. Aloo Paratha is a very common Indian breakfast item full of calories which can keep you going until the lunch. This stuffed Indian flatbread can be enjoyed on its own or with raita (yogurt preparation), pickles or any curry.
Aloo Tikki is basically Potato cutlets or potato cakes often enjoyed in the evening as a snack. It is a very popular Indian street food. I still remember those fun evenings during my childhood when, Aloo Tikki wala would come to our street with his mobile cart and would shout out to sell his Tikkis, all the kids would rush to their doors. If my mother was in good mood, she would allow us to have Tikkis as a snack. Those days it was just 5 INR/ plate with two tikkis. Now as an adult I realise that it wasn’t just my mom’s mood but also her intentions to feed us healthy that made these tikki’s a special treat reserved only for certain evenings.
Aloo curry is one of the most simple curries that one can make and all you need for this simple dish is Potatoes and basic Indian spices. Potato curry is best enjoyed with hot Paranthas or Pooris (Deep fried Indian Flatbread)
Really flavorful Indian dish ‘ Dum Aloo’ comes from the Kashmir region and in this version of potato curry, baby potatoes are cooked for hours with aromatic spices. However, we’ve shown you a simple way to prepare this tasty dish.
One of my favourite comfort foods, Bombaby Potatoes are not only easy to prepare but are so satisfying as well. Perfect little dish to make on rainy days especially if you are feeling gloomy because this flavourful Potato dish will surely perk you up.
This is a wonderful spicy potatoes recipe which goes well with roti, naan or parantha. I not only enjoy it on road trips but also serve it as a side dish with lunch or dinner when company is over. Achari basically means pickled and gets the name because of all the wonderful spices being used in this recipe.
Ingredients
Serves 4-6 people
7-8 medium size potatoes
Oil for cooking (preferable Mustard Oil)
1.5 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tbsp ginger/garlic paste
1.5 tsp red chilli pwd
0.5 tsp cumin Pwd
1 tsp Turmeric
1 chopped Onion
2 small tomatoes
Salt per taste
1 tsp Garam masala
1/2 tsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
Tempering/Tadka (It goes on top of the cooked dish for additional flavoring)
2 tbsp Mustard Oil
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Fenugreek seeds (Methre)
1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) Coriander seeds (Dhaniya seeds)
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1.5 tsp Fennel Seeds (Saunf)
1.5 tsp Kalonji(Nigella seeds or Onion seeds)
Process:
Heat oil in the pan
Add Cumin seeds. Once they are crackling add onions and mix.
After 30 secs, add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric and red chilli pwd.
Stir all the ingredients and add cumin pwd.
Add tomatoes and give them 3-4 mins until they are softened.
Once they are done, add potatoes, half cup of water and salt per taste and let them cook on medium heat. Cover the pan and give potatoes around 10 mins.
While potatoes are cooking, prepare the tadka/seasoning/tempering with some Indian spices.
Heat 2 tbsp Mustard Oil and add tempering spices. Let them crackle and infuse the oil with their aroma and flavor. Turn off the heat.
Once Potatoes are done, add this tempering on top along with some garam masala pwd and kasoori methi.
Serve with roti/parantha or let them cool down and then put then in the lunch box and take them on your next road trip.
Super Simple yet flavorful, this Potato recipe is a great snack, perfect to take on the road, for school or office lunch box. It can also be enjoyed as a side dish with any curry along with rice, naan or roti.
Ingredients and Method
4-6 potatoes
2-3 tbsp oil
2 cloves of garlic minced
1/2 cup yogurt
1 tsp salt (adjust salt per taste)
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tbsp lemon juice
3-4 stalks of cilantro leaves
1 tsp Curry Powder
Method:
-Wash and Peel Potatoes and then cut them in bite size pieces.
– In a bowl take 2 cloves of garlic minced and prepare the marinade by mixing yogurt with all the spices.
– Let potatoes soak in this marinade for 10-15 mins.
– Heat oil in a wok. Add in Potatoes and cook until done. Cover the wok while potatoes are cooking.
– Cook on med-high and keep stirring so that they don’t stick to the bottom of the wok and are evenly cooked.(This will take 7-8 mins depending on quality of potatoes)
– Once tender, add lemon juice on top and garnish with cilantro leaves.
Serve hot with paratha or roti.
If you love Naan, then you got to try this version in which this Indian flatbread is stuffed with potatoes. The good thing about this recipe is that you don’t even need a Tandoor or oven to make this tasty bread. Simply make it on a griddle/pan on the stove stop.
9. Potatoes can always be combined with different vegetables and will yield tasty results. e.g. of some of the most popular Indian vegetarian dishes using potatoes are :
Aloo Gobhi (Potatoes with Cauliflower)– Perhaps one of the most basic Indian dishes, aloo gobhi is healthy as well as easy to prepare. It is quite popular on Indian restaurant menus too.
Aloo Matar (Potatoes and Peas Curry) – You can prepare potatoes and peas in the dry form as a sabji or with some water to have a tasty curry.
Aloo Baingan (Potatoes with eggplant ) Everyday Indian dish, aloo baingan is quite underrated yet so good when prepared properly. Growing up in India, I saw my mom making this curry always in Mustard Oil and without mustard oil, I don’t find it as tasty here in North America ( Mustard Oil sold in grocery stores in North America mostly is labeled as for external use only.)
Potato Egg Curry (Aloo anda curry) This is a good curry to try if you like to eat eggs and want to have something substantial.
Aloo Phalli (Potatoes with green beans) Try this potato dish with french green beans for a quick side dish.
Aloo gajar matar (Potatoes with carrots and green peas) Combine carrots and peas along with potatoes to have this flavourful and hearty Indian side dish.
Aloo Bhindi ( Okra with potatoes) Okra/ Lady fingers taste great on their own but they taste even better when combined with potatoes. Another quick and yummy side dish from my Indian kitchen for you.
Aloo Palak (Spinach and potatoes) I find it hard to consume spinach just on its own but love this flavourful dish as it lets me have my cake and enjoy it too.
Aloo Methi (Potatoes with Fenugreek leaves) Really nutritious potato dish that my mom use to make a lot during winter months when Fenugreek leaves were available in abundance in Punjab region of India.
Potato Cabbage Masala (Bundgobhi aloo masala) Another simple everyday Indian dish in which cabbage is cooked with potatoes. Great way to transform humble cabbage into a great side dish.
This is one of the most simple Indian recipes. In this dish we flavor potatoes with cumin seeds and it can be enjoyed as a side dish with rice or with chapati, naan etc.
Ingredients:
2 medium size chopped potatoes
1 small green chilli
2 inch piece of ginger julienned
2 tbsp Oil for cooking
3-4 stalks of Cilantro for garnish
1/2 tsp dried mango pwd (Amchur)
Salt as per taste
1 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp cumin seeds
– Start by heating oil
– Add cumin seeds. Once they splutter, add green chili and ginger. Give them 2 mins and then add potatoes. Stir them and add 1/2 cup water
– Potatoes will take 10-12 mins to cook. Half way through add dried mango pwd.
– Once potatoes are done, garnish with Cilantro leaves and serve.
Potato fritters is often used as an appetizer as well as served to guests with a hot cup of chai. Anyways, Who doesn’t love deep fried potatoes 🙂 In this fritters recipe, we prepare the batter with chickpea flour i.e. besan.
Aloo Chana Chaat is my take on Indian Street food. Aloo Chana Chaat is basically an Indian snack, quite healthy and literally means Potato-Chickpea Salad with tons of yummy flavours.
Ingredients/ Method
1 Cup Boiled Chickpeas (Chana)
1 Cup Boiled Potatoes
1/2 Cup chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp Green chilli (Handle with care your mouth might get burnt)
2 tbsp Green Onions (Optional but adds a nice bite)
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp roasted cumin pwd
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup Tamarind Sauce/Chutney
For Dressing:
2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves
4 tbsp Plain homemade yogurt
1/2 tbsp Mint Leaves (I used dried)
1/2 tsp black pepper powder
(Blend all dressing ingredients together for smooth paste)
Simple mix all ingredients together, pour the dressing over and serve in mini tartletes or party cups.
Aloo Bonda is basically spiced potato dumpling or call them potato balls. Great for parties, get togethers or potlucks. They also make a tasty snacking treat.
Ingredients: (Makes 30-40 balls)
4-5 medium size potatoes
2 tsp salt
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger-garlic
3 stalks of cilantro leaves (coriander leaves) chopped
1 small green chilli (optional- can make bonda’s extremely spicy)
2 tsp Mango Powder (Amchur)
1/2 tsp Red chilli pwd
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp black pepper pwd
For Batter
1 cup Chickpea flour (Besan)
1/2 cup Rice Flour
Pinch of garam masala and mango pwd
Oil for deep frying
1. Boil, peel and mash potatoes
2. Add all the spices and mix everything thoroughly and make small golf size balls.
3. Prepare the batter by gradually adding water. Batter shouldn’t be too thick or runny.
4. Dip the potato balls in the batter and deep fry until golden brown (should only be 3-4 mins). You can fry several balls at a time.
5. Serve with your favourite sauce and enjoy!
During summer months, it is common practice to eat Raita along with lunch in many Indian households. Raita is just a yogurt preparation and in this recipe we combine it with boiled potatoes to have this yummy dish.
15. Potato Chickpea curry Recipe
A simple recipe to make at home using channa/chole and aloo (chickpeas with potato) and basic Indian spices is Potato chickpea curry (aloo chana curry). A very healthy vegetarian curry full of flavor and nutrition it is a must try for all curry lovers.
Think of Potato Bhajji as scrambled potatoes Indian style. This bhajji (dish) can be eaten on its own, filled in sandwiches or can serve as a side dish with roti/paratha. It is often used as a stuffing for Dosas (South Indian crepes)
Spice up your everyday Hash browns with some basic Indian spices. This hash browns recipe taste wonderful if you are a spice fan. If you like hash browns then do try this simple Indian style Hash browns recipe.
Ingredients: 2 large par-boiled potatoes, Salt, Turmeric, Garam Masala, Red chilli pwd, Dried fenugreek leaves and mango powder and butter.
Though not Indian, I love Mashed Potatoes. Try this best -ever mashed potatoes recipe at home especially when company is coming over or you are preparing feast for friends and family. This is a must have dish on your holiday buffet dinner or Christmas menu.
Ingredients:
4 lbs potatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp regular salt
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup butter Unsalted
1 cup milk
1 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp black pepper
Method:
1. Peel the potatoes and put them in cold water.
2. Chop the potatoes in cubes and put them in a pot of water. Add in garlic salt and olive oil and let potatoes boil. Cook them for 12- 15 mins.
3. Once potatoes fall apart easily, drain the water and let the potatoes cool down.
4. Melt butter in a wok and add 1 cup milk. Heat up the two components.
5. Mash the potatoes.
6. Season milk with salt, parsley and black pepper. Add in mashed potatoes and mix well.
7. Add in Sour cream. Mix well and serve warm during dinner.