Batata Bhujna | Pathare Prabhu Style is a unique potato curry that is very flavorful and super simple to cook.
The Batata Bhujana is one of the vegetarian dishes of the Pathare Prabhu community .it is a dish which even a novice can cook. You need very few ingredients, in fact, most recipes of the Pathare Prabhu cuisine do not require more than four to five ingredients. We will mix all ingredients for Batata Bhujana, including oil and then place the dish on fire. This makes it a unique style of cooking.
What is Bhujana ?
Bhujana is a style of cooking and the Pathare Prabu’s make a variety of dishes following this style. They make fish, eggs, Prawns, but for vegetarians, it is potatoes or Vaal. Their cuisine is dominantly seafood. They like to add minced prawns or meat to the traditional dishes like Upma or Aluwadi. They even make a traditional Undhiyu, called PP Ghada. I am sure the non-vegetarians will find this very interesting. A Bhujana dish with some rice is comfort food for any Pathare Prabhu.
What is Pathare Prabhu ?
Pathare Prabhu is a Hindu Community in Mumbai. This is one of the elite communities, who migrated from Gujarat. It is a small community, just about 7000 across the world. They are the descendants of King Ashwapati who reigned in Nepal.
Kunal Vijaykar is a broadcaster, food writer, author, actor and television personality. Do check his complete article on Pathare Prabhu Cuisine. It is an interesting read.
Ingredients for Batata Bhujana | Pathare Prabhu Style
Potatoes: Use any variety of potatoes, make slightly thick slices.
Onions: Finely chopped red onions go into making the dish.
Ginger: Chop the ginger finely.
Garlic: Again chop the garlic very finely.
Coriander Leaves: wash and chop the leaves finely, you can be lavish with them.
Spices: Basic spices like turmeric powder, red chilly powder and salt go into this dish.
Oil: Use oil lavishly. Do not compromise on it.
How to make Batata Bhujana | Pathare Prabhu Style
To make Batata Bhujana we will first-chop onions, ginger, garlic and coriander leaves. Chop everything finely.
Add the chopped onions, ginger, garlic and coriander leaves to a bowl.
Next add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, salt and finally oil to the onion mix.
Peel the potatoes and cut them into slices.
Wash the potato slices and add to the prepared onion and spice mix. I like to mix everything with my hands and leave it for just about five minutes.
We will now cook the potatoes.
Add the mixture to a Kadai or wok and sauté it for two minutes. We do not have to add any oil, as we have already added it to the mix.
Now add water, just enough for the potatoes to be immersed in.
Cover the Kadai and cook till done. This shall take about 10 minutes.
Serve hot with Baakhri, Chapati or Rice.
What is unique about Batata Bhujana ?
Batata is Aloo or potato and any potato dish never fails. Batata Bhujna is a unique curry. We mix all ingredients, including oil before actually putting the Kadai on flame. This makes the dish very flavorful and unique.
What are the other Pathare Prabhu dishes ?
Pathare Prabhu cuisine revolves around seafood.
All their dishes have something like crabs, prawns, shrimps, fish or meat.
Among the vegetarian dishes, I have tried Watanyachi Khichadi and it is actually like a pulao and pairs very well with Batata Bhujana.
Here are some more Potato Dishes that I like –
Potatosalata | Greek Potato Salad
Batata Bhujna is my post under the Theme Pick One Ingredient and Make Three. I have already shared Aloo ki Launji and Sindhi Aloo Recipes.
Batata Bhujana | Pathare Prabhu Style
Equipment
- Pan / Kadai / Wok
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 500 gms Potatoes sliced
- 3 Onions large, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Ginger finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Garlic finely chopped
- 1 cup Coriander Leaves finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 2 tsp Red Chilly Powder
- 4 tbsp Oil
- Salt to taste
- Water as required
Instructions
- In a bowl add chopped onions , ginger , garlic , coriander leaves.
- Now mix in turmeric powder, red chilly powder, oil and salt to taste.
- Peel the potatoes , wash and cut into slices. Mix the potato slices in the onion mixture . Make sure the potatoes are well coated with the mix.
- Next take a kadai or a wok .
- Add the prepared potatoes . Sauté for a minute or two.
- Now add water so that the potatoes are well immersed.
- Cover with a lid and let the potatoes cook till tender . This should take about 10 minutes.
- Serve hot with Baakhri , Chapati or Rice.
This dish sounds unique in the method of preparation. It sounds simple and the potato curry never fails to impress however you prepare. 🙂
Lovely curry and great to know about o new style of cooking. Thanks for sharing. My family will love this curry!
This is definitely an interesting way of making potatoes. Thanks for sharing about the pathare prabhu style cooking and cuisine. Will definitely checkout the article that you have shared.
Batata Bhujna looks so delicious and perfect to enjoy with hot rotis. so flavorful with a lot of ginger and garlic. Thanks for sharing the history of the dish.
Interesting way of cooking the aloo. I am sure this is uniquely flavorful.