Potato Fry: A Taste of Home, Love, and Memories
Ah, Bangaladumpa/ aloo Kura—or simply, potato fry—my ultimate comfort food. I am sure it’s a favorite of many, young and old alike, but for me, it’s far more than just a dish. It’s a memory. It’s love. My first taste of this curry goes back to the days when my dad would make it for my sister and me. Every time mom stepped out for work, my dad would take charge in the kitchen. He’d chop onions, cube the potatoes, and then add salt, red chilli powder, and cumin seeds. And that was it. It wasn’t just about the ingredients; it was the love he poured into that dish, a taste that stayed with me forever.
It’s a recipe I have carried with me through the years, one I learned from my dad, but my mom’s version has its own charm. She doesn’t add onions every time, but still, the end result is always magical—crispy potatoes with a little oil, cumin seeds, and a touch of salt and chilli powder. The taste? Heaven, pure heaven. My mom knows how to make the potatoes crispy with so little oil, a true art in itself.
There are two memories that always come to mind when I think of this dish. The first is when I went to my mamma's (dad's mother/ my granny) house in Machilipatnam during my 7th class summer holidays. A beautiful, coastal city in Andhra Pradesh. My mamma, Pednanna (dad’s elder brother), Atta (dad’s elder sister), and I were all there, and oh, there were so many cats and kittens to keep me company! I was super close to my Peddi—I still call him that with so much love whenever I talk about him to my sister. The house was large, with a vast garden, a deep well, and my Pednanna would drop Atta off at work on his Bajaj scooter everyday. I would sit in the front, enjoying the beautiful city breeze. I’ll never forget those days. We would buy potatoes, and I would cook them myself in the biggest, juiciest amount of oil I could find, eating them all by myself nearly every other day. No surprise I gained a few kilos by the time I came back home!
The second memory is from when mom was boiling potatoes for poori, and we had these small stones in the house that looked exactly like potatoes; same shape, same size. We were told to never touch them with our feet, as they were considered sacred; Lakshmi maa. But unknowingly, my dad put two of those stones into the cooker with the real potatoes! We were lucky the cooker didn’t explode, haha! Just another example of how my love for potatoes is intertwined with family, fun, and memories that I cherish.
Potatoes are more than just food to me; they are a reminder of love, family, and the simple moments that make life so special.
Ingredients:
- 3 large potatoes, cut into cubes
- 1 medium onion (optional)
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp red chili powder
- Salt to taste
- 1-2 tbsp oil (preferably mustard or vegetable oil)
Instructions:
- Heat a pan/ preferably iron with oil and add cumin seeds. Let them splutter.
- Add the potato cubes and stir well.
- Add onions (if using) and sauté a little. Let the crunch remain slightly.
- Sprinkle salt and red chili powder over the potatoes.
- Cover and cook on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are golden and crispy.
- Serve hot with rice, roti, or as a snack!
Srishti’s Secret Tip for the perfect Potato curry:
For extra crispy potatoes without using much oil, heat your iron kadhai for a good 2-3 minutes before adding oil. Don’t put the potatoes in until the kadhai is hot enough—this prevents them from sticking to the vessel and gives them that perfect crispy texture. Use minimal oil and let the kadhai work its magic! Also, if you're adding onions, wait until the potatoes are 3/4th cooked before adding them. This ensures the onions and the potatoes crisp up perfectly.
Srishti’s Healing Tip for the perfect plate:
Potatoes are one of those rare dishes that seamlessly blend with almost any veggie, bringing out the best in each one. Whether you're pairing them with peas, carrots, or leafy greens, potatoes balance flavors and textures in the most comforting way. Just like life, it’s about blending different elements together—each bringing its own essence to create something greater than the sum of its parts. Cooking potatoes reminds us that simplicity can create harmony, and sometimes, it's the smallest things that make the biggest difference in both food and life.
Why You’ll Love It:
This isn’t just a simple potato fry; it’s a plate full of memories, love, and nostalgia. Every bite takes you back to the moments shared with family, the joy of cooking with minimal ingredients, and the peace of simple, comforting food. It’s the kind of dish that doesn’t need to be perfect to feel perfect—crispy, flavorful, and rich with stories. You’ll love it because, much like home, it offers a sense of warmth and belonging that stays with you long after the meal is finished.
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