Aloo Posto - आलू पोस्तो (Potato in Poppy Seeds Gravy)

Hello Friends,


First of all HAPPY HINDU NEW YEAR to everyone who is celebrating today :)


Today, I am here with a wonderful lunch combo that I have had as a kid growing up. It was a treat for us when mom would prepare Masala Masoor Dal, Tomatoes & Dates Chutney and Aloo Posto (this recipe) with warm rice. It couldn't get better than that.

Aloo Posto - आलू पोस्तो (Potato in Poppy Seeds Gravy)

Ingredients
Aloo (Potato) - 2 cups, thinly sliced like fresh fries (I like this, but go with your preferred shape).
Onion - 1 cup, thinly sliced
Posto (Poppy Seeds) - 3/4 cup
Panch Phoran (Five Seed Mix) - 1 tsp, (you will get this easily at any Indian store)
Tej Patta (Dry Bay Leaf) - 1 or 2, depending on the size of the leaf
Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp
Dry Red Whole Chilies - 3-4, adjust on your taste buds
Salt - as per taste
Mustard Oil - 1tbsp

Preparation

• Take a wide pan and heat mustard oil in it till it starts smoking
• Add panch phoran and tej patta and let them splutter
• Add potato and onion slices and fry them till potato pieces along with turmeric and salt and close the lid (on medium heat).
• Meanwhile, dry grind poppy seeds and dry red chilies to an almost fine powder. Some people also prefer to soak poppy seeds in warm water for few hours or minutes, but I prefer this method of dry grinding as my mom taught me, lol
• Now, add water to the dry powder (in the blender itself) and make into a paste
• Once potato is cooked in the pan, let them fry a bit without the lid on.
• Add this mixture along with 1 cup water and let it cook with potato for about 4-5 minutes or till raw smell is gone.
• Remember that due to poppy-seeds paste, the curry will start sticking to the bottom of the pan, so be careful not to burn the gravy :)

Serving
Serve it as I mentioned above with warm rice or even nice rotis. It tastes equally good :)


This along with the following are my entries for my Flavors of Bengal event which I am guest hosting and which was started by Nayna.
Masala Masoor Dal

Tomatoes & Dates Chutney

I am also send this recipe to Simple Lives Thursday, 39th Edition event of Diana

That's all for now. Take care till next post.