Masala Packed Aloo Dum Recipe, All the Way from South Asia

Coming all the way from the south of Asia, this Aloo Dum Recipe can be made with simple ingredients in only 30 minutes. Prepared with potatoes, garam masala, bay leaf, and other spices, this recipe is very easy to prepare for a lazy breakfast.

If you are weak for potato based dishes, now is the time to try something South Asian. Enough of the usual french fries and mashed potatoes, taste this spicy and masala packed breakfast for a bit of change in your life! This simple recipe provides you with a dish full of spicy and savory flavors.

But not to worry, you can always adjust the spices to your needs. With very easy to find ingredients, you can always make an Aloo Dum dish. All you need is a little love for spices and cravings for some savory potatoes.

What is Dum Aloo?

Aloo Dum or Dum Aalu is a potato based spicy dish. Aloo means ‘Potato’, and Dum means ‘Steam cooked’. So basically, Dum Aloo is a potato curry made by steaming the potatoes first. It is then made into a thick gravy which is a perfect Masala-daar side to your meal.

It is popular in South Asian countries, mostly in Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. The dish is served almost everywhere in local hotels and restaurants. Having cheap and easily available ingredients, this is a perfect choice for a loafing breakfast or an afternoon supper.

How to Make Aloo Dum

Equipment

• Boiler
• Bowls
• Knife
• Cutting Board
• Stirring Spoon
• Stove
• Saucepan
• Fork

Ingredients

• 500 gm Potatoes: The potatoes are the main ingredient in this dish. Try not to use frozen potatoes, or your dish will get too liquidy and it will affect the texture of the potatoes.
• 7 cloves Garlic: Garlics are used in the spice mix which will be added to the gravy.
• 1 cup Chopped Onions: The more onions you use, the gravier the dish becomes!
• 2 tsp Chopped Ginger: Ginger is also added to the spice mix along with garlic.
• 1 ½ tsp salt: Salt is needed while boiling the potatoes and also in gravy to adjust the taste.
• ½ tsp Fennel Seeds: Fennes, or traditionally called ‘Mouri’ is a great ingredient to infuse an aroma to the curry.
• Water: About 2 ½ tbsp Water will be needed for the spice mix. To cook the potatoes, you will need about 3 ½ cup water. At the end, you will need 1 ¼ cup water for gravy preparation.
• 2 ½ tbsp oil: You can use any edible oil for this recipe.
• 1 inch Cinnamon: Cinnamons are a great source of aroma and flavor. It is a common item used in any South Asian dish.
• 2 Cloves: Cloves are also important spices that will enrich your dish.
• 2 Green Cardamoms: Cardamoms influence the spiciness and Masala flavor of your dish. But make sure you do not use too much of it.
• 2 Bay Leaves: Another common item to add to a Masala recipe. It is easily available and a much needed item.
• ½ tsp Caraway Seeds: Traditionally known as ‘Jeera’, this is something used in practically all curries of the South Asian region for adding a certain flavor that you will not find in any other cuisine!
• ½ tsp Turmeric Powder: It is used both for its natural color and health benefits. Your Aloo Dum will be incomplete without a little bit of Turmeric!
• ½ tsp Red Chili Powder: You may adjust more or less depending on your preference.
• ½ tsp Coriander Powder: This is an important spice to add, especially when one looks to create the ideal mix of hot and savory.
• ½ tsp Garam Masala: This is a mix of a variety of spices in itself. This is commonly available in stores, but it can also be made at home. Instructions for that can be described a little later after the main recipe.
• 1 ¼ tbsp Coriander Leaves: Add some chopped coriander leaves for their flavor, color, and aroma to the Dum Aloo.

Directions

Step 1: Peel and Cut the Potatoes

Take out the potatoes and peel them lightly. You can also keep the skin if you want. After making sure they are clean enough, dice the potatoes in 1 ½ inch bite size cubes.

Step 2: Cook the Potatoes

Add ½ tsp of salt to the water. Make sure that the potatoes are soft enough, but too soft that they have already become soggy. Check by pricking a piece of them with a fork. After cutting the potatoes, cook them in a boiler for about 5 minutes at medium to high flame. 

Step 3: Prick the Potatoes

When the potatoes are boiled, drain the water and put them in a bowl. With a fork, prick the potatoes so the gravy you are going to cook later enters the potatoes. It will ensure the taste and texture of the potatoes.

Step 4: Stir fry the Spices

Take a saucepan and pour the oil. Add the chopped onions and ginger. Stir for 30 seconds and then add the spices. Add fennel seeds, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, bay leaves, caraway seeds, turmeric powder, chili powder, and coriander powder. Keep stirring the mixture till its aroma rises.

Add garlic and a bit of water to the pan so the spices don’t get burned. After that, add the Garam Masala and cook for 3 more minutes for the spice mix to get ready.

Step 5: Prepare the Gravy

Pour the potatoes into the spice mix and stir for some time. After 5 more minutes, pour the remaining water into the pan and mix well.

Step 6: Cover and Wait

After preparing the gravy, cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 10 minutes. Keep the heat at medium to low flame to ensure the steam cooking.

Step 7: Add Coriander Leaves

Taking off the lid, you will see a slightly thick consistency of the gravy. At this moment, put the chopped coriander leaves and mix together with the gravy. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 8: Serve Hot and Enjoy!

Your spicy and hot Aloo Dum is now ready. Serve while it’s hot and enjoy your breakfast!

Tips for Your Recipe

If you follow the following tips, your Dum Aalu will reach the peak of perfection!

Use Baby Potatoes

Baby potatoes are better for this recipe as they can be cooked faster. You can save 5 minutes of your precious time! Also, baby potatoes have thin skins, so you do not need to worry about peeling them.

But make sure to scrub them properly before starting the recipe.

Fry Potatoes After Boiling

Boiled potatoes can be fried in olive oil until golden brown. This will make them a bit crispy, and it may influence an excellent addition to the aroma.

Do Not Add Garlic Soon

You may think of adding the garlic along with onions and ginger, but don’t do it! Garlic can burn easily and if it does, it will ruin the smell of the dish.

Extra Items to Include

Many people tend to add some extra items to make the dish more flavorful. You can go for the following options:

Tomatoes

Tomatoes will add a tangy flavor to the dish and also make the gravy gravier! Not to mention, it also increases the nutritional factors of your favorite sides.

Panch Phoron

Panch Phoron is a Bengali spice blend. It is made by mixing 5 varieties of seeds and blending them until they are in powder form. You can make your own by blending cumin seeds, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, and wild celery seeds together.

Yogurt

Yogurt or curd will add an extra creaminess to your gravy. You can whisk the yogurt until smooth and add to the spice mix. But remember that, if you add yogurt, you have to reduce the amount of water in the gravy. Otherwise, your gravy will get too liquid.

Cashews

This is another flavor enhancer that you can definitely try out. Make a paste of cashews with a bit of water and add it before pouring water into your spice mix.

Green Peas

Not a common practice, but adding green peas might make the gravy even more tastier. Consider adding it along with the potatoes. Consider adding it along with the potatoes. You need to boil the peas along with the potatoes, or the peas remain hard when the rest are cooked.

How to Make Garam Masala at Home

You can prepare your own Garam Masala at home if you can’t seem to find it at stores. Here’s how:

Ingredients

• 4 Bay Leaves
• 2 tbsp Green Cardamoms
• 2 tbsp Cloves
• 1 tbsp Black Pepper
• 8 gm Cinnamon
• ½ Small Nutmeg
• 3 Star Anise
• 3-4 Black Cardamoms
• 3 Strand Mace
• ¼ cup Cumin Seeds
• ½ cup Coriander Seeds
• 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds

Directions

1. Take a heavy pan and add all the spices mentioned above, except the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and fennel seeds. Roast them until a nice smell comes out. Keep the heat at low flame and keep stirring the whole time.
2. Add the cumin seeds and roast for some more time.
3. Add the fennel seeds and roast for more.
4. When you feel like the spices are crunchy and make sounds while stirring, remove them from the pan and transfer them to a large tray.
5. Let the spices cool down until you can touch them with your hands
6. Grind them all together in a mixer grinder. When they form fine powders, your Garam Masala is ready!

What to Eat it with?

You can enjoy your Aloo Dum as a side to your main meal. Traditionally, Aloo Dum is eaten along with Paratha (Flatbread). You can also try it with plain rice. Having Aloo Dum with steamed rice will give you the best taste.

You may add various condiments to your meal like pickles (Achar) or Bhortas (mashed veggies) to enjoy a Bengali style meal.

Nutritional Information

The following nutrition information is important in case you want to track your calories and diet:

Nutrients	Amount (Per Serving)
Calories	233 kcal
Sugar	5.1g
Sodium	1410mg
Fat	11.7g
Saturated Fat	1.4g
Carbohydrates	3.4g
Fiber	4.1g
Protein	3.8g
Cholesterol	10mg

Summary

With so many spices combined together in it, this Aloo Dum recipe must satisfy your spice-starving stomach. As one can see from the recipe, this dish has so many types of spices involved, all adding their own part of taste and aroma to the preparation.

It is very popular in Nepal, Kashmir, India, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries. This is a common breakfast snack. You have to eat it hot with your parathas or rice. That’s when the best flavor comes out.

Frequently Asked Questions: