Aloo Tamatar Sabzi with onion and garlic
Growing up, when we had school vacations, we used to travel to Kolkata from Shillong by train. I so miss those train rides! Gazing out the window watching those paddy fields, the bunk beds that we would non-stop climb and then, those vendors who kept coming with snacks to munch all day long. Out of all the dishes that I would eat in that long journey, Poori Sabzi was always the one that we looked forward to. There were a few railway stations that were known for this humble specialty. As soon as the train stopped on the station, Baba would climb down in a rush and get us four plates of poori sabzi, piping hot and freshly prepared! There was something about that particular dish that even someone like me, who was not much into food back then, couldn’t resist.
What is Aloo Tamatar Sabzi?
Aloo Tamatar Sabzi is a rustic potato stew in tomato based gravy. It’s a comfort food, often served for breakfast. There are probably 4 to 5 varieties of aloo sabzi that I love, and I am pretty sure sooner or later, all of those dishes will show up here. Not sure why I held up this long to share these simple dishes. Now, this particular version of aloo tamatar sabzi is North Indian style and my Mom never made this version. I would make this stew very regularly for weekend breakfast and Arvind would always comment saying something is missing. So, it actually took me a while to get the taste right. I finally learned these tips from my friend Prerna.
Key tips you need to follow:
The ratio of tomato and potato should be equal for the perfect balance.You don’t want to cut the boiled potatoes in perfect, neat bites. Make it rustic, uneven and break it apart with hands.You want to cook down the tomatoes completely before adding the boiled potato cubes.
A few fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lemon juice at the end bring this entire curry together, beautifully balanced in flavor. Paired with poori, it’s a hearty meal for anytime during the day! Try this North Indian Navratri Special Kuttu Poori & Vrat Aloo Sabzi
