Aloo Rasedar
Isn’t it mind boggling to know, that a single vegetable (technically a tuber) can be turned into endless culinary creations! Yes, that’s the humble yet extremely popular and staple potato (aloo) for you. In this recipe of Aloo Rasedar, a special from the food rich state of Uttar Pradesh, potatoes are cooked in a perfectly spiced, warm, tasty and comforting gravy.
About Aloo Rasedar
How many times you get to eat or try a dish which is simple at its core, made with no onion, no garlic and still is able to strike the right chord when hunger strikes? I mean a lot of people have this misconception about Indian food being ONLY spicy and fatty.
But if you delve deep into it, you’ll find that most of our everyday dishes are an answer to this question. Not to forget, Indian food is balanced, delicious, nutritious and a lot many positives, if done the right way. Period.
So is this Aloo Rasedar. Imagine when it came to existence in the cuisine of Uttar Pradesh (UP), they wouldn’t even realise that it will naturally be a vegan dish.
No fancy and expensive ingredients, still hardcore plant-based. This is what the beauty of most of traditional Indian cuisine is.
To put it simply about this specific preparation, the Hindi words for ‘potato’ and a slightly thin ‘gravy/curry’ are ‘aloo’ and ‘rasa/rasedar’ respectively.
So, when put together, it becomes the name of this dish. Sometimes, rasedar may also be spelt as ‘rassedar’ or ‘rassedaar.’ Please know that there’s no difference there at all.
My easy-peasy recipe of Aloo Rasedar is made with tomatoes, ginger, spices and obviously aloo. Also, repeating again, no traces of onion or garlic. Once you’re done with boiling or steaming the potatoes, making the gravy is quite simple.
This Aloo Rasedar is quite adaptable. You can vary the spice levels as per your likings. The spices used in this gravy merge really well with the tomatoes and enhance the flavors. Since tomatoes bring in the tang element, you can alter that as well or make it a completely tomato less gravy too.
You can even make this dish with baby potatoes. Also, add some green peas to the curry and turn it into an Matar Aloo Rasedar.
This preparation is quite apt for Hindu fasting/vrat days as well. So, use edible rock salt or sendha namak when making for fasts or vrats.
As already mentioned, it makes for an ideal filling breakfast, brunch, lunch or even dinner. At home, a typical combination is this Aloo Rasedar, poori and the Punjabi style Gobi Gajar Shalgam Achar or Aam Ka Achar.
The most ultimate way of relishing the Aloo Rasedar as a street food in UP (it’s common at railway stations too!) would be to have it steaming hot with bedmi poori or Kachori.
It is also a classic breakfast combination popular amidst all there. While a more comforting way of serving it would be to relish it with hot phulka, chapati or even regular Poori.
Just like any other Indian dish that will have many variations, you will also find plenty of curry variants made with the humble potato.
Some variants that I have shared are Mathura Ke Dubki Wale Aloo, South Indian Poori Masala, Maharashtrian Batata Bhaji and my regular everyday Potato Curry.
Simple to very fancy potato-based curries (dry or runny) are super prevalent across India. You go anywhere, you’ll get a unique recipe and the way it is served.
I have also seen aloo sabzi or Aloo Rasedar and poori being served in dhaba (roadside eateries) on highways, especially all-over North India. There are thousands of variations, if not less, with each having a distinct taste and texture.
How to make Aloo Rasedar
Preparation
1. Before you begin boil 4 medium-sized rinsed potatoes (300 grams) with 2 to 2.5 cups of water in a 3 litre pressure cooker for 3 to 4 whistles on medium heat.
When the pressure drops on its own, then only remove the lid. Carefully, remove the potatoes with the help of tongs and place them on a plate to become warm at room temperature.
When the potatoes become warm or cool, peel and crumble them. Set the crumbled potatoes aside. You can opt to chop potatoes instead after peeling them.
Set aside all the spice powders you will need. Keep these ready as you don’t want to search them when you begin the cooking.
Peel and finely chop 1 inch ginger. Also finely chop 1 medium to large tomato.
2. Next heat 1 tablespoon oil (or ghee if you prefer) in a pan. Keep heat to the lowest and add all the below listed spice powders:
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon fennel powder
- ⅛ teaspoon asafoetida (hing)
- ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder or cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
3. Stir to mix.
4. Add 1 inch finely chopped ginger (about 1.5 teaspoons finely chopped) and sauté for half a minute on low heat.
5. Add ¾ cup finely chopped tomatoes (1 medium to large tomato) and stir.
6. Sauté the tomatoes on medium-low heat till they soften and you see oil releasing from the sides of the pan. Stir often while sautéing tomatoes.
7. Add the crumbled potatoes and stir well. Sauté for a minute.
Make Aloo Rasedar
8. Add 1 to 1.5 cups water and mix again. You can adjust the consistency by adding less or more water.
9. Season with salt as required.
10. Then, add 1 teaspoon dried mango powder (amchur powder).
If you do not have dry mango powder, add ½ teaspoon lemon juice or as needed after the cooking the curry is complete.
No comments