- 1
Start by preparing the recipe for Dahi Aloo. Wash and boil or steam the potatoes until cooked. Add 2 cups water and pressure cook for 3 to 4 whistles on the stovetop, or steam them in an Instant Pot or electric cooker.
- 2
Allow the pressure to drop before opening the lid. Use tongs to take the potatoes out carefully. Put it aside to cool.
- 3
Remove the skin of the potatoes and break them into fine small pieces when still warm but manageable. Put these aside for further use.
- 4
In another bowl, whisk the fresh curd (yoghurt) until it is smooth. This will give you a creamy texture for your Dahi Aloo.
- 5
Gradually add 2 to 2.5 tablespoons of besan or gram flour and whisk again till well combined.
- 6
Add the water to the curd mixture. Whisk it well, so no lumps of gram flour persist. This slurry is going to be the base of the dish. The grainy texture will add thickness, and the flavours will infuse well.
- 7
Chop the onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and green chillies. Make sure you keep all the ingredients prepped up because the cooking pace is quite fast.
- 8
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan over low to medium heat. Fry cumin seeds as they start to crackle and change colour adding flavour from them to the oil.
- 9
Add the finely chopped onions. Saut the onions with low to medium heat; stir often until they turn translucent and soften, usually taking 5-7 minutes.
- 10
Add the fine chopping of ginger, garlic, and green chillies. Stir and saut for about half a minute, allowing the flavours to blend.
- 11
Add curry leaves and a pinch of asafoetida (hing). Fry for a half minute on low to medium heat till the spices start emitting an aroma.
- 12
Add finely chopped tomatoes to the pan.
- 13
Stir and continue to saut over the range of medium-low to medium heat till the tomatoes become pulpy and the oil begins to separate from the masala mixture. This usually takes five minutes.
- 14
Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, and coriander powder to the cooked tomatoes. If you are a spice lover and would love to include a little heat, add another ¼ to 1/2 Tsp of red chilli powder.
- 15
Now, mix those spices well in that tomato mixture.
- 16
Now add the boiled, crumbled potatoes to the pan and gently stir them into the masala, saut over low to medium heat for about 2 minutes. Switch off the heat, and add the curd and gram flour slurry; stirring would prevent curdling.
- 17
Let it simmer on low heat for 8 to 10 minutes or till it is relatively smooth and has the desired consistency, and add water accordingly.
- 18
Season with salt, garnish with garam masala and chopped coriander, served with chapati, roti, or rice.