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Aloo pitika
আলু পিটিকা: Assamese mashed potato with raw mustard oil, onion, green chilli and coriander
Aloo pitika is the first thing on many Assamese lunch plates, a rough mash of boiled potato sharpened with raw mustard oil, onion, green chilli and coriander, eaten with the first mouthfuls of rice and dal. Guwahati families make it daily, and in winter it may be mixed with roasted aubergine or a boiled egg. The usual mistake is making it smooth like a Western purée; it should be coarse and hand-mashed so the onion and chilli stay crunchy. Chef's tip: use pungent kachi ghani mustard oil and rub it in last, so its heat hits the nose.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the pitika
- 1 ⅛ lb potatoesfloury, unpeeled
- 1 small red onionvery finely chopped
- 2 green chilliesfinely chopped
- 3 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tbsp raw mustard oil (kachi ghani)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Boil 1 ⅛ lb potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes until a knife slides in easily. Drain and peel while warm.
15 minStep 2: Crush the potatoes roughly with your hand or a fork, leaving small lumps.
2 minStep 3: Add 1 small red onion, 2 green chillies, 3 tbsp fresh coriander and ¾ tsp salt and mix with your fingers.
2 minStep 4: Rub in 1 ½ tbsp raw mustard oil (kachi ghani) until every bit is coated and smells pungent. Shape into a mound and serve with rice and dal.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 23 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does aloo pitika take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of small red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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