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Monday, April 2, 2018

A - Z Indian Street Food ~ A for Aloo Kabli


I mentioned to my husband casually one evening last month that I am planning to participate in this month's mega marathon ‘Explore the Flavors’. The man who was busy working looked at me probably wondering when did I start needing his permission to do anything and what was special about marathon this time. He thinks that I cook based on marathon themes rather than considering anyone's tastes and preferences at home.😊 I further volunteered that I was not able to choose whether I need to pick a weekly theme or go with one theme for the whole month. Though I sounded as solemn as I was questioning whether I need to solve the hunger problem first or tackle poverty first in the world, the husband zoned out and simply said 'mmm'. For the next few minutes or to rather my questions, I kept on getting more 'mmm's which literally translate to ‘I am not paying attention anymore, you can stop’. Though I had made a list of recipes for weekly themes, I gave him a final ultimatum loudly that I need to go to Whole foods and Patels to buy some millets and other grains I haven’t used before as I was picking ‘Whole Grain’ theme.

That got him into my track back as he wasn’t sure what would I dole out in the name of ‘healthy’ dishes and he wanted to hear about my weekly themes. I told him what they were and said I was planning to cook 6 or 8 international street foods as part of it. The man is a die-hard fan of Indian street food and by now, his interest has piqued by ten folds. Probably he was shocked and thought I was crazy planning international street food instead of making his favorite chaats at home. He switched from inattentive to 'convincing the wife' mode in no time to get me agree to cook 26 street food items at home. That’s how I ended up going to blog about Indian street food this month. 
I decided to go with A-Z theme and had a healthy dish planned for this first post but my husband wanted some aloo chaat instead. I went to the Bengal region to pick this lip smacking version called aloo kabli instead of doling out the common one. As the name indicates, this one is a potato – chickpeas (kabuli chana) salad and is lip smacking good with a zesty sauce as the background. Though the ingredients' list is long, this is quite a simple recipe to dole out. You can even add cucumber pieces and tomato if preferred. The freshly ground bhaja masala lends an inviting cumin flavor and the tamarind sauce lends a blend of sweet, spicy and tangy flavor base to this quick and yummy chaat. This aloo - kabli can be eaten as a quick snack or even a light meal. 

Recipe source: Here
Ingredients:
2 medium sized potatoes (about 1.5 cup cubed)
1/4 cup chickpeas (1/2 cup cooked)
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1 small green chili, cut into thin rounds
2 tbsp. cilantro finely
Black salt to taste
1 tsp. lemon juice 
Ingredients for bhaja masala:
1 or 1.5 tsp. cumin seeds
2 red chillies (Use 1 chillie if less spice is preferred.) / 1/2 tsp. red chili powder 
Ingredients for tamarind sauce:
2 tbsp. tamarind chutney (I used store bought one.)
2 tbsp. water
1 tsp. bhaja masala
Salt to taste
1 small green chillie, finely chopped 
To garnish:
Sev (Fried thin chickpea flour vermicelli)
Toasted and skinned peanuts
Minced cilantro
Method:
* Peel and cube the potatoes. Cook on stove-top in a sauce pan and in a microwave just until done. Do not overcook them or turn them mushy. Drain  the water and keep them aside.
* Soak the chickpeas overnight and cook them until tender. Or use canned chickpeas for a shortcut. Remember to rinse them well before use.
* Dry toast the cumin seeds on low flame until they start to brown. Toast the red chillies if using. Cool and grind them together fine.
If using chili powder, toast cumin seeds only. Grind cumin and mix chili powder to it. This is bhaja masala.
* Combine the ingredients under tamarind sauce in a small bowl. Mix and keep it aside.
* Save some minced onion, chili and cilantro for garnishing. Now add the cooked potato cubes, cooked chickpeas, remaining chopped onion, chili & cilantro, remaining bhaja masala, black salt and lemon juice in a mixing bowl. Toss them together and let it sit for about five minutes.
* Now divide the mixture into 2 or 3 serving bowls. Drizzle some tamarind sauce over them. Garnish with onion, chili, cilantro, sev and peanuts. Serve immediately.

BMLogo 
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 87

17 comments:

Sandhya Ramakrishnan said...

What all it takes to get husband's attention! I am so excited to see your theme choice and can't wait to see what you have in store for the rest of the month. The name aloo kabli is quite new to me but looks too good. Wish I could dig into th bowl right now.

Unknown said...

ha ha loved reading about how your hubby convinced you to make a street food A-Z series instead of your healthy set if dishes .. so first credits are to him to make you bring the delicious street foods the whole month.. And what a wonderful chaat to start the marathon with looks scrumptious and my mouth is watering with those freshly ground bhaja masala makes it more flavorful, looks so yummmy !!

vaishali sabnani said...

Ha ha ! Men ! Men ! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post Suma . I guess we do what we want to but act as though we are seeking permission ��. Indian Street Food is my favourite theme and I love such tongue tickling dishes . Aloo Kabli sounds like a new version of Aloo Chat which I have to try asap ! Seriously the bhaja masala will make so much difference to the whole dish .
Looking forward to the complete series ..

Harini R said...

Good find, Suma. Though this sounds very much like aloo chaat, the Bhaja masala must have added an extra kick to the whole bowl. Shall try this Bhaja Masala trick on my chaat loving family.

Padmajha said...

This sort of scene used to happen years back with my husband, now it has shifted to a discussion with kids!This one is very new for me. Am so drooling over these pictures Suma. Such a delicious chaat.

Priya Suresh said...

Omg, streetfoods, am just drooling just on reading the name of the dish, and that last click is a real torture. my mouth is literally watering here. Looking forward to see all your delicious street foods Suma.

Gayathri Kumar said...

Really interesting to read about how you got your hubby's attention. I too love Indian street foods, and i am so looking forward to all your dishes this month. This aloo chat is a wonderful start to the BM. Looks absolutely inviting..

Sharmila kingsly said...

Yummy yumm... Totally waiting for the other street food recipes too..
Aloo kabli sounds and looks so delicious..

Srivalli said...

Suma, that was one hilarious conversation that I really enjoyed reading! I can so well imagine how your husband reacted. Mine very dutifully asked if all Mega BM cooking was done after being subjected to never ending flatbreads and street food..hehehe.. I love chaats and can't wait to read about all the dishes you are going to make..Never heard of this one, will surely bookmark!

cookingwithsapana said...

I too made something similar but I love this Bengali version sounds more healthy and tasty. My husband never listens when I start talking about blog or marathon 🤨

Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen said...

Aww suma, i m soooo hungry looking at the click! It is lunch time and this delicious, droolicious, aloo kabuli is making it more worse!!! Lipsmacking good!!!

Kalyani said...

wow that's quite a turnaround ! Although my husband too knows I mostly cook for the blog !! this is a wonderful dish, Suma and I know u always pick rare , beautiful dishes and this is no exception :)

Sandhiya said...

Wow, those bowl looks delicious and love to grap it. Great start to Mega BM and looking forward to A-Z series of street food !!!

Pavani said...

That looks so so inviting Suma. I wish I can make a bowl of that chaat right now. My husband will probably be excited too if I make street food for him :-) looking forward to your yummy street food creations this month.

Srividhya said...

So finally, you caught your hubby attention, right? Great start and love the chaat series. A lot to learn and explore.

Preeti said...

Same here we also cook only for blog and BM... your bowl looks so tempting and lovely start for Month.

Mayuri Patel said...

I think we all know how to catch out hubby's attention... like the way chaat made your hubby listen to you. Mine wouldn't even bother to help me decide... he will just want to taste the food. Love your healthy chaat, so doable and tasty. Looking forward to other street food recipes.