Notebook of recipes

Inspired by Delhi, Perfected in Our Home

❤️ The Story Behind This Dish

Some recipes come from tradition…

and some are born out of love, memories, and the people we cook for.

Dum Aloo is one of those recipes for me.

When I moved to Canada and started living with my partner — who is proudly Punjabi — I was introduced to a whole new world of flavors. The boldness of Delhi food, the richness of Punjabi curries, the love they put into everyday meals… all of it pulled me deeper into that cuisine.

He loves Delhi-style Punjabi food — the kind that is comforting, flavour-packed, and reminds you of home.

And very naturally, one of my favourite things became cooking Punjabi dishes for him.

But while I was inspired by the traditional version, I wanted to create something that feels like ours — something that brings together both our families’ preferences.

So this Dum Aloo recipe is exactly that:

a blend of:

• His Punjabi–Delhi-style taste
• My style of cooking
• And what both our parents enjoy in a homemade curry

It’s warm, comforting, flavourful, and crafted in a way that suits our shared household — with balanced spices, creamy texture, and melt-in-the-mouth potatoes.

This dish will always remind me of the small moments we built together in Canada —

learning, tasting, laughing, and cooking as a team. ❤️

I hope this recipe brings the same warmth to your home as it brings to ours.

🥔 Dum Aloo (Punjabi Style)

Serves: 3–4 people

Spice Level: Medium

Cooking Time: 35–40 minutes

📝 Ingredients (Accurate Quantities for 3–4 People)

For Tempering

• Oil – 3 tbsp
• Cumin Seeds (Jeera) – 1 tsp
• Bay Leaf – 1
• Hing – 2 pinches

Aromatics

• Green Chilies – 2, slit
• Ginger – 1.5 tbsp, finely chopped
• Garlic – 1.5 tbsp, finely chopped
  (You can increase ginger & garlic if you want stronger Punjabi flavor.)

Onion-Tomato Base

• Onions – 2 medium, finely chopped
• Tomatoes – 2 large, finely chopped or grated
• Salt – 1.25 tsp (adjust later)

Curd Masala Mix

(Whisk together before adding)

• Curd – 1 cup, smooth
• Jeera Powder – 1 tsp
• Coriander Powder – 1.5 tsp
• Kashmiri Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp
• Spicy Red Chili Powder – ½ tsp
• Black Pepper Powder – ½ tsp
• Garam Masala – ¾ tsp
• Turmeric (Haldi) – ½ tsp

Main Ingredient

• Baby Potatoes – 14–16, peeled & washed
  (Or 6–7 regular potatoes chopped into big chunks)

Finishing Touch

• Amul Fresh Cream – 2.5 tbsp
• Ginger Juliennes – for garnish
• Fresh Coriander – a handful
• Green Chili – a few slices for heat & freshness

👩‍🍳 Method

1. Tempering the Oil

Heat oil in a pan. Add:

• cumin seeds
• bay leaf
• hing

Let them sizzle and release aroma.

2. Add Aromatics

Add green chilies, ginger, and garlic.

Sauté until the raw smell disappears and everything becomes fragrant.

3. Cook the Onions

Add chopped onions and cook until golden brown.

This step adds deep sweetness and richness to the curry.

4. Prepare the Curd Mixture

In a bowl, whisk the curd and all spice powders together.

This prevents curd from curdling.

5. Add Tomatoes

Once onions are golden:

• add tomatoes
• add salt
  Cook until the tomatoes soften and the oil starts to separate.

6. Add the Curd Mixture

Lower the heat and add the curd mixture.

Whisk in ONE direction only until the gravy becomes smooth and creamy.

Let it cook until you see light oil separation again.

7. Add the Potatoes

Add peeled baby potatoes and mix well.

Adjust water depending on how thick you want the gravy.

8. Pressure / Instant Pot Cook

Cover and cook until:

• the potatoes turn soft
• and the gravy thickens beautifully

9. Finish with Cream

Add Amul fresh cream and simmer for 1 minute.

This adds the final richness and smoothness.

10. Garnish

Finish with:

• ginger juliennes
• fresh coriander
• green chili

💡 Tips & Notes

• Using baby potatoes enhances both taste & presentation.
• Grating tomatoes gives a smoother Delhi-style gravy.
• Whisking curd in one direction prevents splitting.
• Adjust chili according to your family’s taste preference.
• Add cream in the end for a polished, restaurant-style finish.

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