Degchi
Aloo Posto
Serves 4 · Total 40 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 20 min
AI-generated illustration (Gemini)
Potatoes cooked in a thick paste of ground poppy seeds, green chilli and a little mustard oil — a quiet, nutty Bengali comfort dish eaten with rice on the simplest of weeknights.
Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Potato, Green chilli, Mustard oil, Turmeric · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 4 pc 4 pc Potato, cubed
- 4 pc 4 pc Green chilli, 2 for paste, 2 slit
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp Mustard oil
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Salt, to taste
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Nigella seeds (Optional)
Steps
Timers run only while this tab is open. The Degchi app keeps them running on a locked phone.
- Soak poppy seeds in warm water for 20 minutes, then grind with 2 green chillies into a smooth paste.⏱ Soaking poppy seeds · 20 min
- Heat mustard oil; add nigella seeds and let them sizzle.⏱ Tempering the spices · 1 min
- Add cubed potato, turmeric and salt; fry for 5 minutes.⏱ Frying potato · 5 min
- Add the poppy seed paste and slit green chillies; mix well.
- Add half a cup of water, cover and simmer on low heat until the potatoes are tender, about 12 minutes.⏱ Simmering aloo posto · 12 min
- Serve hot with steamed rice and a wedge of lemon.
Cook this in the app — get Degchi on Google Play
Get it on Google PlayNot sure you have everything? Check this against your pantry
Frequently asked questions
How long does Aloo Posto take?
40 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
Is Aloo Posto hard to make?
Degchi rates it easy. The method has 6 steps, and 4 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Aloo Posto serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Aloo Posto halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Aloo Posto?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, salt. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: potato, green chilli. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: mustard oil.
Any tips for making Aloo Posto?
Mustard oil, not any other oil, is essential here — it's what gives aloo posto its distinctive pungent aroma.
Notes and questions
No notes yet. Ask a question about this recipe, share a tip, or tell us if something needs fixing. Our team reads every note before it appears.
Ask a question or add a note
This recipe in other languages
Used in these posts
Musurir Dal: Bengali Red Lentil Dal With Panch Phoron
Bengali red lentil dal is thinner, lighter and quicker than most Pakistani daal. The tempering carries the flavour, so it pays to get that right.
Aloo Posto Recipe: Poppy Seed Paste Without the Grit
Aloo posto has six ingredients and one hard step: grinding poppy seeds smooth. Here is how to soak, grind and cook the paste so the potatoes come out creamy, not sandy.
Bengali Fish Curry With Frozen Fish (US and UK)
Fresh rohu is hard to find abroad. Frozen steaks work if you thaw them well, dry them, and treat them gently in the pan. Here is the method and the swaps.
Cooking terms in this recipe: Mustard oil · Kalonji
