Wondering how you can make good use of potatoes? Ask a Bengali and he would tell you a myriad ways in which you can use them, from curries to fritters and biryani! Yes, you heard us! The famous Kolkata Biryani has captured world's imagination for the ingenious use of potatoes in the rice dish. The Bengali obsession with potatoes has given birth to many iconic dishes. One such dish is bhapa alu. 'Bhapa' in Bengali means steamed, and the simple potato preparation spells comfort for millions.
(Also Read: Bengali Food: You Have Heard Of ‘Aloor Chop', ‘Peyaji'; But Are You Aware Of These ‘Bhajas'?)
This recipe posted on the YouTube Channel 'Chef Ananya Banerjee' is ideal for days you want to sit back and enjoy a no-fuss, flavourful and wholesome meal with rice. It is traditionally tempered with mustard oil, dried red chillies and panch phoron (a special Bengali five-spice mix made with jeera, kalonji, saunf, methi, mustard seeds), which give the dish a hot and peppery flavour that is aptly complemented by the yogurt paste in which the potatoes are tossed eventually before steaming. YouTuber and Vlogger Ananya Banerjee has used parboiled baby potatoes to make this hot and creamy dish. You can pair it with piping hot rice and you have a soul-stirring meal at your disposal. Make sure you place the potato mixture in the middle of the steamer, and secure it with a wooden toothpick. Steam it for 6-7 minutes, if you do not have a steamer you can microwave it too.