Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Bihari Aloo Chokha - Mashed Potatoes - The Indian Way




Dadu’ (My Maternal Grand Father) always tells my Mother, “Tor Chhele taa Ohomiya aar Meye taa Bihari” (Your Son is an Assamese & Daughter is a Bihari). The reason being my Father had what they call a ‘transferable job’ & travelled across the Country & we followed. My Brother’s babyhood was spent in Guwahati, Assam & mine in Patna, Bihar.


On the other side, the Bihari in me fell for a greater Bihari from Asansol (on the Bengal-Bihar border), who speaks 'Bhanga Bhanga Bangla' (broken Bengali) & has a very good influence of Bihar in him (including a stockpile of the filthiest Bhojpuri numbers: P). Hence, our Bihari-ness continues.


Aloo Chokha, the recipe I am going to share today is essentially a Bihari recipe of Mashed Potatoes with fried Onions & Chillies, spices and a generous dash of Mustard Oil. My Father always says when Aloo Chokha is served to him, “eta diye du thala bhaat khawa jaaye” (I can eat 2 platefuls of Rice with this).


Here is what you will need to make the simplest Aloo Chokha:


Potatoes – 4 medium sized – boiled and peeled
Onion – 1 medium – chopped
Green Chillies – 2 – chopped
Whole Dry Red Chillies – 2
Cumin Powder – 1 tsp
Coriander Powder – ½ tsp
Red Chilli Powder – 1 tsp
Ginger – ½ “– grated
Garlic - 2 medium cloves – grated
Mustard Oil – 2 tbsps
Salt to taste


Here is the method to make it:


·         Cut Potatoes into quarters and boil them.
·         Once boiled, peel them and mash with Salt and keep.




·         Heat Mustard Oil in a Pan.
·         Add Whole Dry Red Chillies and let them sizzle.




·         Add the chopped Onions and Green Chillies and sauté them till transparent.




·         Add the dry spices, Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder & Red Chilli Powder & fry till the dry spices are cooked.




·         Add the mashed Potatoes & mix thoroughly.




·         Plate it with a couple of Green Chillies, broken n sautéed in a few drops of Mustard Oil under a minute.




Best eaten with a plate full of Rice with Clarified Butter / Ghee.

5 comments:

  1. Wow very nice. I am going to try. thanks.

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    1. Sure Vimlesh! Do let me know how it turn out to be.

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  2. very nice...and useful. I boiled the potato cubes with a bit of turmeric & salt, and later on, mashed them with onion slices before sauteing in the oil. added an extra zing!

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    1. Thank you Soma, I am so glad you tried it, do share a picture when you make it the next time.
      Here is the link to my Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/FlavorsomeFlavors

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  3. main khana banana seekh raha hu.......mere parents ghar par nahi hai...........main recipe dekh dekh kar bana raha hu.......hope accha ban jaaye..........

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