A classic Bengali mashed potato dish infused with mustard oil and green chillies, comfort food at its finest
Aloo Bhorta
Ingredients
- 250 gm boiled potatoes peeled
- 2 onions finely chopped
- 1-2 green chillies finely chopped, adjust to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves chopped
- 2 tbsp mustard oil
- Salt to taste
- Optional: 1 dried red chilli for Instruction 2
Instructions
Instruction 1 – Traditional (No-Cook) Bhorta:
Mash the Potatoes:
- Boil, peel, and mash the potatoes while still warm.
Combine Ingredients
- Add chopped onions, green chillies, coriander leaves, and salt.
Add Mustard Oil:
- Pour in mustard oil and mix everything thoroughly with your hands or a spoon until well combined.
Serve:
- Serve at room temperature with hot rice and lentils.
Instruction 2 – Sautéed Bhorta:
Heat the Oil:
- Heat mustard oil in a pan. Add chopped onions and dried red chilli. Sauté until the onions are golden brown.
Mix in Remaining Ingredients
- Add coriander leaves, salt, and mashed potatoes. Stir well to combine everything evenly.
Serve:
- Serve warm with rice or as a side dish.
Notes
Aloo Bharta is one of the most iconic and beloved comfort foods in Bangladesh. It may seem like a simple mashed potato dish, but its flavours, textures, and cultural depths make it truly special. Aloo Bharta is usually served with steamed rice and lentils as “dal” after being shaped into a small round and mashed further with rice using fingers, a deeply sensory, intimate way of eating that connects one with their food and culture. Aloo Bharta evokes nostalgia, warmth, and maternal care. It’s a dish made with love and often the first thing someone craves after returning home.