Siddha Alur Bhala (Blackened Spicy Home Fries)

Name: Siddha Alur Bhala (Blackened Spicy Home Fries)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 2 lbs red potatoes, unpeeled (or any thin skinned potato); 2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil (or any bland oil that has a high smoke point); 1 bay leaf; 1 whole chipotle chile, stemmed, seeded if desired; 1 whole dried ancho chiles or 1 whole small morita chilies or 1 whole pasilla chile, stemmed, seeded if desired; ½ teaspoon hing; ½ tablespoon raw sugar; 1 tablespoon cumin powder; 1 dash cayenne, to taste; 1 teaspoon garam masala or 1 teaspoon curry powder; plain yogurt or sour cream; lemon wedge; salt, to taste

Servings: persons

2 lbs red potatoes, unpeeled (or any thin skinned potato)
2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil (or any bland oil that has a high smoke point)
1 bay leaf
1 whole chipotle chile, stemmed, seeded if desired
1 whole dried ancho chiles or 1 whole small morita chilies or 1 whole pasilla chile, stemmed, seeded if desired
½ teaspoon hing
½ tablespoon raw sugar
1 tablespoon cumin powder
1 dash cayenne, to taste
1 teaspoon garam masala or 1 teaspoon curry powder
plain yogurt or sour cream
lemon wedge
salt, to taste

1
The day before, or early on the day of preparation, boil the potatoes until 3/4 cooked.
2
Drain and set aside to cool.
3
Once cool, cover and refrigerate.
4
(Or bring to room temperature.
5
).
6
Whirl the chipotle and ancho chili in a blender or clean coffee mill until ground.
7
Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil on medium-high heat in a cast iron skillet and brown the cooled potatoes; about 10-12 minutes.
8
Remove with slotted spoon and set aside.
9
Scrape off the browned potatoes that stuck to the bottom of the pan and discard.
10
Add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil to the skillet.
11
Add the bay leaf and ground chilies and cook until darkened; about 1 minute.
12
Add the hing and the remaining spices.
13
Now add the sugar, potatoes, cumin and cayenne pepper.
14
Fry the mixture for about 3-5 minutes to blend the flavors; stirring often and reducing heat if necessary.
15
You are wanting to blacken the potatoes, NOT burn them!
16
Remove from heat and serve with a dollop of plain and yogurt and a lemon wedge.
17
Allow your guests to season to taste with salt.
18
Can be served hot or at room temperature.

279

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Brown sugar instead of white sugar adds a deeper, more caramel-like flavor.
Coconut cream is a reliable plant-based alternative to dairy cream.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

Saved locally in your browser — visible only to you.

How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 13 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 2 lbs red potatoes, unpeeled (or any thin skinned potato), 2 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil (or any bland oil that has a high smoke point), 1 bay leaf, 1 whole chipotle chile, stemmed, seeded if desired, and more.

Yes, Siddha Alur Bhala (Blackened Spicy Home Fries) falls under the General category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!