Achari Aloo is pickle flavored roasted potato. It’s a popular main dish in North India and is served with butter naan, roti, or rice. While this is usually made with a unique spice blend called achari masala, the recipe below is different in that it’s been hacked to eliminate that masala and use store bought pickle instead. Credit for this goes to a close friend of mine, a top chef in his own right. Let’s recreate some magic with baby potatoes…

WHAT YOU WILL NEED for ACHARI ALOO

Ingredients

Note: 1 cup = 235 ml

1. 500 gms baby potatoes
2. 2 inch ginger, crushed
3. 2 garlic pods, crushed
4. 2 Tbsp. avocado oil or any cooking oil
5. 1 tsp. mustard seeds
6. 1 cup onions, finely chopped
7. ¼ tsp. turmeric
8. 1 tsp. cumin powder
9. 1 ½ tsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
10. 3 Tbsp. store bought North Indian pickle (1 ½ Tbsp. mixed veg. and 1 ½ Tbsp. mango pickle)
11. Salt to taste (½ tsp. salt)
12. ½ tsp. garam masala powder
13. 2 Tbsp. cilantro, finely chopped

Kitchen tools

1. Vegetable steamer / Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker
2. Small blender / mortar & pestle
3. Medium size flat bottom pan
4. Flat ladle

PREPARATION – ACHARI ALOO (with step-by-step photos)

STEAM

Step 1 – Wash and steam cook 500 gms. of baby potatoes in an Instant Pot for 10 minutes in steam mode with valve in venting position. If using a regular pressure cooker for one whistle. If using open pot method, just cook the potatoes until a fork sticks in smoothly

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CUT n PREP

Step 2 – Peel the potato skin, cut them into quarters and set aside

Step 3 – Make a paste with 2 inch ginger and 2 garlic pods using a small blender jar or just crush them together with a mortar and pestle

Step 4 – Set a flat bottom pan on medium heat and add 2 Tbsp. cooking oil. Add 1 tsp. mustard seeds and allow it to crackle

Step 5 – Add 1 cup finely chopped onions, the ground ginger garlic paste and cook until translucent

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Step 6 – Add the quartered potatoes from step 2

SPICE IT UP

Step 7 – Now add all the spices – ¼ tsp. turmeric, 1 tsp. cumin powder, and 1 ½ tsp. Kashmiri red chili powder and mix well

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Step 8 – Now add 1 ½ Tbsp. mixed veg. pickle, 1 ½ Tbsp. mango pickle, ½ tsp salt and give it a good mix

Ensure the pickle is not a South Indian variety, it must be a North Indian brand

Each pickle brand might differ so add salt as needed after tasting

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SAUTÉ

Step 9 – Close with the lid and let it cook for 5 minutes. Stir in between to avoid burning the bottom of the pan

Step 10 – Add ½ tsp. garam masala, 2 Tbsp. finely chopped cilantro, give it a good mix and cook for another couple of minutes 

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Garam masala is usually added at the end of cooking so that it seasons the dish and adds to the aroma

Step 11 – Enjoy sublime Achari Aloo with piping hot rotis 😋

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The versatility, affordability, and taste of potatoes make them one of the – if not the most – popular vegetable in Indian cuisine. While there may be a million recipes out there, this potato recipe is our family’s absolute favorite not just because of its taste, but because it’s a tribute to one of our dearest friends Pradipta Seal. Similar to the popularity of potatoes, he was loved by people of all age groups. He was a very soft natured individual just like a perfectly baked potato and his versatile interests in academics, sports and food were unmatchable. He was always curious – from desiring to solve challenging mathematical problems to reverse engineering food recipes from his restaurant visits. This Achari Aloo recipe was one such creation. When we visited him in Boston, he was late getting back home and said he’d whip something up in a jiffy. We were skeptical because quick food is usually not the tastiest, but this dish blew us away. My attempt at recreating it did not go well so I got on the phone with him for a quick recap, and like a professor he first asked me to explain what I did. When I rattled out to my steps, he pointed out my flaw – “aloo banaayaa aur jeera bhool gaye? aise kaise aloo banaya?” [rough translation – how can you forget to add cumin when you make potatoes]. My second attempt was a super hit at home and to this day, every time I cook potatoes, the first thing my hands reach out to from the spice box is cumin. Pradipta was full of life and he continues to live in our memories to this day with this sublime Achari Aloo!

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Variations of Achari Aloo

• Achari Aloo Gobi
• Achari Baingan (Eggplant)
• Achari Paneer
• Achari Mixed Vegetable 

Accompaniments for Achari Aloo

• Butter Naan
• Roti / Phulka / Chapati
• Puri
• Rice with Dal Makhani

Related Recipes

Roasted Sweet Potato

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