These easy bombay potatoes (Bombay aloo) are a great Indian side dish. We love them as part of a homemade Indian meal and they are definitely as good as the takeaway ones! If you love spicy Indian potatoes then you definitely need to try this recipe.
My kids love potatoes but are not so keen on rice so I've started making these simple Bombay potatoes to go with quite a few of our Indian meals.
They are fairly easy to make and full of flavour. My kids love them and I can quite happily eat a whole plateful of them if no one stops me. I say my kids love them but the rest of the family do too! They are a great side dish for any kind of Indian meal.
What ingredients do you need for Bombay potatoes?
To make this simple Bombay potatoes recipe you'll need:
- Potatoes - Often a waxy variety is better for Bombay potatoes as floury potatoes can break down a lot. However, I've made them with both types and they work whatever kind of potatoes you use.
- Onion - I usually use a standard brown cooking onion but this dish also works with red onions or shallots.
- Tomato
- Root ginger - I like to use fresh root ginger as it has a stronger flavour than a paste or puree but it's really up to you.
- Chilli peppers - I use finger chillies and keep the seeds in. If you want it to be milder, scrape the seeds out.
- Whole spices: cumin seeds, black mustard seeds
- Ground spices: coriander, garam masala, turmeric
How do you make Bombay potatoes
There is a full recipe further down the post but basically you boil the potatoes.
While the potatoes are boiling, use a food processor to make a paste from the tomatoes, ginger and chilli peppers. Or finely dice by hand if you don't have a food processor
Then heat some oil and cook the whole spices for about 30 seconds before adding the onion. Cook gently for about 5 minutes and then add the ground spices and paste. Cook gently.
When the potatoes are ready, add them to the pan with a little water and cook for about 5 more minutes so the potatoes take in all the flavours.
How can you adapt the recipe?
There are a few ways you can change this simple Bombay aloo side dish. I like to boil the potatoes as I think the Indian spices then soak in really well afterwards. However, you can also roast them. If you like your Bombay potatoes to be a bit crispy then feel free to adapt the recipe and roast the potatoes first. Or air fry them if that's your thing.
You can add a few extra ingredients if you want. I sometimes add some garlic to the spice paste and sometimes use garlic instead of ginger.
Sometimes I sprinkle some nigella seeds on top as they also add a lovely flavour.
Can you use ground spices instead of whole spices?
If you don't have any cumin seeds then just use a teaspoon of ground cumin. Add it with the ground spices, not with the mustard seeds.
If you don't have any mustard seeds then just miss them out. These spicy Indian potatoes will still taste nice but won't have quite as much flavour. Alternatively you could replace them with some other whole spices. As I said, I love nigella seeds and they could be used instead but would alter the flavour.
What can you serve with Bombay potatoes?
I love to top these spicy Indian potatoes with some fresh coriander. However, I don't always have it and they are still great without.
If I've made the potatoes super spicy with lots of chillies then a big dollop of yogurt on the side is ideal for cooling it down.
I also like to add a squeeze of lemon but again, that's totally up to you!
As far as other dishes go then these Bombay potatoes are great with meaty or vegetarian curries as well as rice and Indian breads.
Why not check out my collection of easy homemade curry recipes for more ideas? I especially like them with this chicken patia!
Can you reheat Bombay potatoes?
Yes, I often have leftovers and these spicy Indian potatoes are great reaheated. You can reheat them in the oven or the microwave. I find it easiest just to microwave them for a minute until piping hot again.
If you reheat them in the oven, just cover them loosely with a little aluminium foild and bake them at about 180C until piping hot. The length of time will depend on how large the amount of leftovers is.
Can you freeze Bombay potatoes?
Yes, just wait until they have cooled and then put them in a freezer proof container. You can freeze them for at least three months.
Defrost them completely and then reheat them in the oven or microwave as described above.
Can you make the paste without a food processor?
I use a food processor for the tomato ginger paste but if you don't have one, you can finely dice the ginger, chillies and tomato. It'll still be delicious
Recipe
Easy Bombay Potatoes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 600 g potatoes peeled and cut into approx 2cm cubes
- 1 tomato
- 10 g root ginger
- 1-3 chilli peppers use your judgement depending on how hot they are and how hot you want the dish to be
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1½ teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaf (cilantro) chopped (optional, to serve)
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes for about 10 minutes until cooked through but not completely falling apart.
- Put the tomato, ginger and chilli peppers into a food processor and blend. Or finely dice if you don't have a food processor
- Heat a little oil in a large saucepan. Add the whole spices.
- Cook the whole spices for about 30 seconds and then add the onion. Cook gently for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the ground spices and then the tomato ginger chilli paste.
- Continue to simmer gently for about 5 minutes.
- Drain and stir in the potatoes. Add about 100ml of water. Cover and cook for about 5 more minutes.
- Serve, topped with a little fresh coriander leaf if you have it.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
More Indian side dishes
As well as these Bombay potatoes aka Bombay aloo, why not make one of these recipes for your next homemade Indian fakeaway?
Keep in touch
Do let me know if you make these Bombay potatoes or any of my other recipes. I love to get feedback from readers.
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ARNAB SAHA
It is good
Corina Blum
Thank you. I'm glad you like the recipe.
Veenas
Excellent Recipe !!! Great Menu Choices !!! YUMMY !!! I'll Definitely Try It.
Corina Blum
Thanks Veenas, I'm so pleased you like it and the suggestions for what to serve with it too!
Desicart
Food was excellent !!! Thanks For Sharing !!!
Corina Blum
I'm really pleased you liked these potatoes!
Sisley White
I have tried these soo many times and they've never worked but with this recipe they did. I don't even need a curry to go with them. They are a delicious meal on their own.
Thank you for linking up to #CookBlogShare x
Corina Blum
Thanks Sisley! I'm so pleased you like them. We're also happy to eat them on their own they're so good!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie
These look delicious! We are having lots of fakeaway curry nights at the moment as we can't have a real takeaway *sob*.
Corina Blum
We're also missing real takeaways! Normally we have a takeaway once a week for a lazy night and then I usually make a homemade curry at least one night a week as well.
Karen
Can you freeze this dish?
Corina Blum
Hi Karen, Yes you can freeze it. It will freeze well for up to three months in an airtight container. It's then best to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating, although you can defrost it more quickly in the microwave.
Cat | Curly's Cooking
This is one of my favourite Indian side dishes. I order it every time I'm at a restaurant but haven't made it myself. I've pinned this to make soon!
Corina Blum
I'm sure you'll love it! My kids were happy to eat a whole plateful with almost nothing else even though the chillies I'd put in made it really spicy! I was just happy I'd made enough that there was some for me as usually they eat all the potatoes if they're in a curry with other ingredients too!
Chloe Edges
Delicious and so easy to make too!
Corina Blum
Oh yes! And everyone in the house loves them. I am going to be making them a lot.
Helen
These look so good! I think I know what's on our dinner menu tonight....
#cookblogshare
Corina Blum
They really are super tasty! I hope you all like them.
Carrie Carvalho
They look delicious! Prefect recipe since we are trying to cut down on takeaways too - will be trying next time we make curry at home.
Corina Blum
Great! I hope you like them! We are also trying to cut down on takeaways this year as lockdown means we don't get anywhere near as much exercise as we used to and homemade is so much healthier.
Janice
I absolutely love how spices transform the humble potato into a feast! Great recipe.
Corina Blum
So do I Janice! I think potatoes are amazing with spices and my kids love them too.
Renu
My all time favorite and comfort food this is. You have made it so nicely , feel like grabbing the bowl and indulging right now.
Corina Blum
I wish you could! I also wish I could have some more too but sadly we ate them all up last week!
Rebecca - Glutarama
This bowl looks delicious. Husband bought tinned bombay potatoes recently - tinned (urgh!) This is way better so will have to make this instead
Corina Blum
urgh! Tinned does sound horrible! I'm sure you'd all like this version better.