Bollywood Cooking: Aachari Alu - Potatoes in Mango Chutney Sauce

Achaari Aloo (02) by MeetaK

I was out with the girls yesterday evening and over several glasses of Cosmopolitans we got to discussing the "Perfect Man". One of my friends, AJ, said she'd seen somewhere a baking gag that one could buy - on the lines of "Bake your perfect man!" Now wouldn't that be a delicious experience. Mine would be made of chocolate!

So what would your perfect man be like? I really do not have to think twice about this one. It's easy - a mix between Daniel Craig and Jamie Oliver! Now where can I get my hands on that kind of baking mix, ladies? On the outside a 100% Daniel Craig, including every one of the six packs and those magnetic blue eyes. The inner qualities, I would divide between the rugged charm of DC's character James Bond and the slight madness and cooking freak of JO!

Before I get caught up in my wild fantasy, let me get to the real issue of this post!

Potatoes! A common vegetable that often is underrated. The Indian kitchen provides us with a multitude of varieties to cook the potato, making it in my eyes a very versatile ingredient.

imageLast month's Bollywood Cooking session shared with you an amazing spicy okra with onions, a recipe from the dazzling the Bollywood Cookbook, by Bulbul Mankani. The okra recipe is a favorite of one of India's hottest stars Saif Ali Khan (a baking mix with a peppering of him would not be too bad either!).

This month I thought I would feature another recipe from the cookbook, given the fact that this month's Monthly Mingle features Indian cuisine in the spectacular MM theme Bollywood Cooking. This time, thanks to Bulbul, I am able to give away an autographed copy of this cookbook to one spectacular entry. I already have a few good looking entries and look forward to more. You have till May 5th to send me your entries.

Coming back to the recipe. The recipe is one from the legendary Bachans. If there were ever to be something like a Royal Family in India I am sure the Bachan family would regally fit the position. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their life and especially about their eating habits. You see a person in a totally different light when you know what their food likes and dislikes are. A dish that instantly intrigued me was this Aachari Alu - potatoes in a mango chutney sauce. I cannot remember ever having tried this combination of flavors before and it was perfect for a recent Indian dinner party I gave.

The recipe's main star is the potato and a little bit like Cinderella's tale, the drab looking spud is turned into a glamorous dish fit for the red carpet with the magical addition of mango chutney. The great thing about this story is that there is no pumpkin at the strike of 12 - just a lot of satisfied smiles all around.

And Prince Charming will be eating out of your hands!


Ingredients
Printable version of recipe here.

Achaari Aloo (01) by MeetaK

8 large potatoes, peeled and cut in quarters
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 onions, finely chopped
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 tablespoons mango chutney sauce, without mango pieces.
Handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Salt and pepper


Method

Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan. Sauté the onions on high heat until golden, then add the tomatoes. Under regular stirring cook the mixture until it turns into a thick paste.

Add some salt and the turmeric powder. After a minute throw in the potatoes and approx. 50 milliliters water. Covered and on low heat, simmer the potatoes until soft and the water has evaporated - this takes about 15-20 minutes. 

Stir in the mango pickle sauce and a sprinkling of pepper. Garnish with the chopped coriander leaves and serve with warm rotis or pita bread.


Verdict

Achaari Aloo (03) by MeetaK

Nothing could be more simpler yet so exquisite. If you have your own homemade mango chutney sauce - perfect. If not use your favorite store bought chutney instead. This was a brilliant addition to my Indian dinner and all my guests kept asking what the secret to the dish was. When adding the chutney make sure it is not the really sweet stuff. I make a mild one which is sweet, spicy and a bit sour, so all the flavors highlighted the potatoes perfectly.

Look forward to all your wonderful Bollywood Cooking entries.

More spectacular Indian dishes you might enjoy:

Michigan Style Tandoori Chicken
Vegetable Dal
Dad's palak paneer



All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2008 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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37 comments:

  1. This is likely something that I would never make unless I saw it successfully made and enjoyed by someone else. It looks wonderful... I'm going to consider making this as a side dish sometime soon!!

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  2. You recipe and your blog looks perfect...I am going to try this for sure.. Thanks for sharing

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  3. Oh wow - this sounds absolutely delicious! I love potatoes in any form, but I have never had them in this flavor combination. Delicious!

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  4. This looks and sounds amazing. As far as Daniel Craig goes, I'd agree with you on the hunkiness factor. I've never heard of him. The idea of a melting chocolate hunkster is a bit messy, though. Hahahaha!

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  5. totally agree with you on D.Craig. He's gorgeous. And this dish definitely looks fit for royalty!

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  6. Daniel Craig is soooo yummy!!!! My poor boyfriend had to listen to me gush all through the movie...my perfect man would be warm, sweet, adventurous and sinfully delicious! I just think of your Chocolate Chile Pots De Crème in a lava cake form...love the mango chutney...adding it to the list!

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  7. This recipe is amazing Meeta and one that I'm definietly going to try! And ofcourse, your pics are as appetizing as always! Beautiful!
    --Ruchika

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  8. Oh, yum! Love the combination of potatoes and mango, and there's always some mango chutney in my pantry.

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  9. Oh, I love the idea of this. Mango is my favorite.

    Paz

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  10. meeta I have eaten a lot of achari alus, but non looked like urs and Im sure tasted like urs... can u post the recipe for the chutney too ?? I'd love to give ths a try!!!

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  11. This sounds so good! I adore mango chutney. Definitely going to try this sometimes soon!

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  12. These potatoes sound amazing! Bookmarked!

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  13. That's cooking by the seat of your pants.
    Potatoes have never looked so alive. Great job, Meeta.

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  14. I just found your blog on Tastespotting. Those potatoes look fantastic.

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  15. Meeta, I have something very similar to yours for your Bollywood Cooking event!:) I'll type it up and send it to you by tomorrow:) that aloo plate looks delicious!!:) I made sweet n sour potatoes with mango and ginger, and since then I've been a fan of mangoes in recipes!:)

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  16. I had mangos for breakfast (brunch?) this afternoon, with barley. I don't eat potatoes very often, but I'm tempted to serve them tomorrow after seeing this recipe.

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  17. oh wow what a combo meeta! will definitely try this soon!!!!

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  18. Hi Meeta,

    Love the look and the sound of this Achaari Aaloo. Have sent you my entry for Bollywood Cooking. Now waiting for a very colourful round-up

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  19. If you can find this "baking mix" send it my way ;) Although I love my man with dark hair, but nothing against six packs and blue eyes :)
    I know somebody who've found the perfect woman baking mix. Gorgeous dish, Meeta! And lucky man you have! (I'm talking about your hubby of course ;)

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  20. Now this is what I'm talking about! I actually just had a mango for breakfast. Have you ever put it in your salads. I've never made my own chutney but I buy really good gourmet brands...

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  21. the perfect man? can i admit i drool over the dorkines of john cusack or zach braff??? haha. but your lovely achari alu looks delish! will definitely have to try this soon!

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  22. Hey meeta amazing recipe.. i always wanted to try this one out.... but never actually knew ow to make it....:) thanx to ur recipe iam gonna try it tonight... will let u know how it turned out...:) hey do check my blog too... :D

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  23. The colors and flavors are stunning, Meeta! I adore mango chutney.

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  24. Wow! Brilliant idea. Sounds delicious!! :)

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  25. I recently read another version of achaari aalu in some other blog. The addition of mango does add a certain tang to it.

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  26. These potatoes read deliciously. I love potatoes, though I'd be inclined to add some heat. How I wish there was an indian grocer in Sweden.
    Also: mango chutney or mango pickle? thanks

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  27. This looks excellent! I try to dabble in Indian cooking, but I've got a lot to learn. My wife loves mango pickle and I've never made mango chutney, but we sure go through our fair share of mangoes. I'll have to try this one out!

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  28. Meeta,
    i just found your blog today. I'm totally amazed. You're a great cook AND you take beautiful beautiful photographs.. Plus you buy organic, wow.. I love Indian food, I've been making a few here and there - not sure how authentic it is since I'm not Indian - but it tastes good so that's all that matters. Am wondering if you'd post a recipe for tikka masala sometime. Thanks.

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  29. Daniel Craig + Jamie Oliver would be HOT!

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  30. this is fantastic. I love potatoes and chutney. Meeta, when are you signing up for T&T ? Do you dare to be tasted? I have a few recipes bookmarked already.

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  31. aachari sounds like acar in Indonesian and it's included cucumber soured with vinegar with bird-eye chilies and shallot chunks. yours probably is the hotter version *drool again*

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  32. Potatoes with mango - this sounds delicious!

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  33. Glad you liked this. It's a different kind of flavors but exceptionally good.

    Yeah and the flavors DC and JO are hot too LOL!

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  34. Meeta,
    I made your achari aloo and it turned out great, a lovely combination of flavours.
    Thanks for the recipe.
    You can find my post at http://mydiversekitchen.blogspot.com/2008/07/lauras-portuguese-sweet-bread-no-knead.html

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  35. Aparna so glad you tried this and enjoyed the flavors. I liked your twist to it too.

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  36. I made this Aachari Alu recipe and loved it. I made it with homemade mango chutney and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing such a simple and wonderful recipe!

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  37. I just bought amba sauce, an Iraqi mango pickle made with fenugreek. Not sure if these two are interchangable but will give it a try. The recipe looks like a nice change from plain old baked potatoes.

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta