ALOO BHUJIA BIHARI STYLE--STIR FRY POTATOES

My niece(sister's daughter) aged 2 used to come to my home as she was my neighbour and relished the regular daal, chawal, aloo ki bhujia. She had no inclination towards meat or fish dishes. She had a sensitive mouth and avoided sharp, spicy food. Dal chawal bhujia seemed to be the right menu for her, the staple of many households in Bihar, including our own. Her taste in food entrenched our own food preferences. My mother in-law enjoyed serving her and over the years they became great friends. Now happily married, sometimes she drops in and stays back for dinner with us. We usually have some light vegetarian food. She asks the helping hand in her marital home to prepare the same simple food, but feels somehow the texture, taste and aroma are not the same as ours. She tells her help to see my video on Youtube making aloo ki bhujia, but somehow finds the final product a little different.

 One day she told me that I miss those days when Mummy (my mother in-law) used to serve me Dal, Chawal, Aoo ki Bhujia. So I thought of sending her the same food to her sasural (in-law’s home) but I felt embarrased that what will her in laws think if I send Dal Chawal and Bhujia only. To complete her comfort food, I cooked Bihari Mutton, sweet Vermicelli along with this comfort food. She was overjoyed to receive her favorite food and she messaged me that " Khala aakhir sabko pata chal gaya constantly favorite food since childhood kya hai. Bhujia was worth the hype too." (“Aunty,now everyone knows why aloo ki bhujia is my favorite. It was worth the hype too”).

 This is the story of Aloo ki Bhujia in my house. 

Aloo ki Bhujia is a traditional recipe of Bihar Cuisine. Bhujia is made with different vegetables, but Aloo/Potato bhujia is the famous of all bhujia's. In Bihar, some households prepare bhujia in breakfast served with roti/Indian Flatbread, Jelly, Omelette. This is my family's favorite breakfast. In other households bhujia is served with dal, Chawal, Omelette. Simple to put, it tastes like heaven and it is a comfort food. Kids love this combo of Dal Chawal and Aloo ki Bhujia. There are many preparation of Aloo ki bhujia and every house has its own version. I simply stir fry long strips of Aloo cut in symmetry, with some spices and water is not used.

Ingredients:

Mustard oil: 2 tbsp 

Green Chili Slit: 4 

 For the seasoning:

 Turmeric powder: ½ tsp Salt: 1 tsp 

The Vegetables: 

Medium- sized potatoes, peeled and cut in long strips: 600 gm

 Onion : 1 Medium

 METHOD: 

To temper Put the oil in a wok over moderate heat. Add the green chili and let them crackle. Saute for 1 min. Add chopped onion and sauté for 1-2 min. Do not brown onion. Add the chopped potatoes. Sprinkle in the spice powder, mix and toss, till the potatoes are well coated with the spices. Stir in between and keep flame to low. It will take 15 min to cook. Do not add water, just stir and spread so that potatoes are cooked evenly. Do this procedure 4-5 times and in 15 minutes it will be ready.

IMP TIPS: 

1. USE IRON KADHAI/WOK TO SIR FRY. DO NOT USE NON STICK.

 2. DO NOT ADD WATER. JUST STIR ON LOW FLAME. 

3. KEEP FLAME LOW. 

4. CUT POTATOES IN SYMMETRY, THEN THEY WILL COOK EVENLY.

5. SIZE OF POTATOES SHOULD BE SAME(APPROX).

 6. DO NOT ADD WATER

VARIATIONS:

Aloo – pyaaz ki bhujia: (Pan-roasted Potatoes with Onions): After sautéing the garlic, add 1 chopped onion, season well and sauté, till light golden brown. Sprinkle in the spice powder and continue as given above. You can take spring onion also. Aloo-mattar ki bhujia(Pan- roasted potatoes with green peas): Follow the same procedure as given aloo-pyaaz ki bhujia. After browning the onion, add 1 cup of shelled green peas and sauté for 2-3 min. Sprinkle in the spice powder and proceed as given. Use boiled potatoes they go well green peas or raw/uncooked potatoes. 

Aloo – shimla mirch ki bhujia ( Pan-roasted potatoes with capsicums): Substitute the green peas with 4-5 green capsicums; work wonderfully with both boiled and uncooked potatoes.