“It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.” ― Paulo Coelho
The best things in life are simple. No fuss, straight from the heart they attract attention because they’re uncomplicated. Like a warm fuzzy blanket, they give comfort and like a friend always available, you can reach out to them easily. A walk in the park, sharing a plate of papdi chaat with a friend, a dance in the rain is all so simple, yet leaves wonderful memories.
I remember during my college days, sometimes I would take a bus to Connaught Place. Getting off at Shankar market bus stop, I would walk all the way to Babbar Lane where one of my close friends lived. Unlike today where everyone has to be informed before visiting, we could drop into each other’s homes unannounced. It was taken for granted that we would be welcomed and something would always be made in a jiffy in case we were hungry. This was usually the case since I would land up around 3 pm. Aunty would hug me tight the minute she opened the door. She would then hurry to the kitchen and return with nimbu paani. Even though sometimes I insisted on a coke she would deny it. “This will cool you down and replenish the lost fluids. Look how hot it is outside and how much you’re sweating. No coke- shoke.That’s bad for health.” She would scurry back to the kitchen again. While we girls chatted nineteen to a dozen, the clamor of pans could be heard in the kitchen. In a while, she would enter the room with food on a tray. It didn’t matter if it was a simple dal chawal with ghee tadka, matar pulao or egg curry with paratha. For me, it was the best meal.
If there was one thing she made so well, it was Khatte Masale Aloo ( Spicy Tangy Potatoes ). Boiled potatoes cut in big cubes were shallow fried in one pan. In another, she would heat minced ginger-garlic, grated tomatoes, and onions. As soon as it started sizzling she would add salt, red chili powder and a big heap of chole powder. Finally, water was added so that the masalas got cooked in the liquid. Once the gravy thickened, she would add the potatoes in this pan and toss them gently so that the masala covered each cube well. A squeeze of lemon juice and a garnish of chopped coriander made this a stellar dish. She would serve this with ghee soaked parathas and aam ka achaar. Man! This was the ultimate comfort food. No fancy dish in a Michelin star restaurant could compete with it.
The Khatte Masale Aloo is still my favorite and it’s easy peasy to make. It goes well as a side dish with chole bhature or can be had with paratha, roti, and dal. Sometimes I cut the potatoes into smaller cubes or use baby potatoes instead and serve them as snacks for guests to enjoy them with their drinks. They’re especially loved by vegetarians who are pretty tired of paneer tikka that is served to them nearly all the time. To make it spicier add mango powder, lemon juice or Mirchi -pudina chutney.
Which way would you enjoy this dish – as a snack, appetizer, or side dish or main dish?
| Prep Time | 20 mins |
| Cook Time | 20 mins |
| Servings |
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- 5 Potatoes Boiled
- 3 tbsp Oil
- 1/2 onion minced
- 1 small tomato grated
- 1 tsp ginger- garlic paste
- 3/4 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp chole powder
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 Lemon ( Juice)
- 1 tbsp green coriander leaves chopped for garnishing
- 1 cup Water
Ingredients
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- Cube the boil potatoes in thick pieces.
- Pour 2 tbsp oil in a pan and put on medium flame. Add the potatoes. Do not use a spatula instead toss them in the pan so they do not break. Take off the flame once they are evenly browned and look crisp.
- In a separate pan, add 1 tbsp of oil. Add the minced ginger garlic, onions and grated tomatoes. After two minutes, add salt, red chilli powder and chole powder.
- Add water and let it simmer on medium flame till the water is reduced to half and the gravy looks thick enough to coat the potatoes.
- Add the potatoes and gently toss them till they're well coated. Remove from fire.
- Put into serving bowl. Add a squeeze of lemon and garnish with chopped coriander. Serve hot with roti or paratha.
You certainly have a wonderful turn of phrase for descriptions. Your description of how aunty used to make the Khatte Masale Aloo made my mouth water. I am very fond of fried baby potatoes and it is a regular side dish in our house.
Thank you so much. It’s a favorite of mine and cooks up in no time too. Ever eaten it like this? It makes a perfect snack.
My mouth started watering is the least I could say. I could feel the warmth of love you received from your friend’s mother. Those were the days!
Loved he recipe as well. I am sure it will be a hit with at my end as well. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the feedback, Anagha. Live was more beautiful in the good old simple days. Do give me your feedback once you make it.
Drooled from the word go! Old world simplistic recipe. Though I’m not such a great cook,going to give this one a shot. Just coz you’ve penned the recipe in the manner I find easiest to follow.
Thanks.
Thank you so much for the feedback. It’s such a simple recipe with ingredients found in nearly every kitchen. Please do let me know how it turns out for you. Cheers!
The recipe details were enough to tingle my taste buds and I would completely second the vote on the dish being easy and best with our good ol’ regular potatoes. Having tasted them just the other day with Dipali at a family gossip get together, it added just the right tang to the already spicy conversation! Keep up the good gourmet work Girl!
Thanks! Now you have to make them and call me for tasting. 🙂
Awesome recipe, Dipali. I would certainly like to make it my main dish.
The picture has been clicked so professionally. Also, your memories and the description make it such a heartwarming post.
Love potatoes and this looks so yummm!
This looks delicious and seems fairly simple to make. I’m a big fan of ‘aaloo’ in any form (I mean, who isn’t?) am going to try this out soon.
Thanks for the lovely recipe. 🙂
khatta khatta ehsaas already on my taste buds,thanks for detailed recipe, lovely pics
Wow! such a simple recipe. The first thought which came to my mind as I read this recipe was -‘Oooh! My girls are going to love this’
Thanks for sharing
This recipe really looks mouth-watering. Can’t wait to have them with puris tonight! 😀
Tempting mouth watering narration. Loved the yummy recipe. Will try some other time and let you know the result.
I love everything about this post- the photography, the recipe and most of all- the heart-warming story behind this special dish. Would surely prepare this.Potato enjoys an almost reverential place in our Bengali cuisine as well. 🙂
This dish is so tempting , I am definitely gonna try it 🙂
Khatte masale wale aloo.. while the khatte masale is my fav.. aloo will be husbands.. so this is the recipe I am trying tonight!! 😀
I am drooling already…loved the recipe and the narrative.
I read your post twice, it was this good! I really liked the way you set the plot before coming to the main recipe part. I could feel the connection of the story with the recipe and it added the tinge of emotions to it. And thanks for sharing this super easy yummy looking recipe as I am going to try it out tomorrow & serve as an evening snack.
Mouthwatering recipe.I loved the way you narrated your memories.
I love them as side dish or as appetizer. Your photos are droolworthy!
Aamchur powder I am going to add to this.This is going to be a quick tasty bite indeed.
I loved that you shared the recipe along with a beautiful memory. That made it even more pleasing to read:)
#MyFriendAlexa #literarylehareads
We all it Masala Aaloo. And it used in be in my lunch box every other day in my childhood. My sister hated every vegetable but potato.Hence my mother used to give us variations of aloo in lunch box.Although with growing up I lost my taste for potato, masala aloo is still a fav in my family.
I am all hungry ..even after having my lunch …sounds similar to dum aalu …but looks a lot different and tempting too…