Potatoes might not be of Indian origin, but people in India have really taken to it since it first arrived in the 16th century. But did you know that there are plenty of potato varieties grown in India today, and that Pahadi Aloo is one of the best there is? In a recent post on Instagram, Chef Anahita Dhondy provides a glimpse into how these potatoes are grown.
Chef Anahita Dhondy, who is well known for her Parsi cuisine with a modern touch, recently went on a trip to Mukteshwar in Uttarakhand. Here, she came across potato growers who specialize in growing Pahadi Aloo of all sizes. In a series of images on Instagram, Chef Anahita Dhondy gave us insight into her potato adventure.
“These potatoes are priceless,” she first wrote, going on to then explain her experience. “Here’s the story … on the first day we arrived in Mukteshwar we went on our usual trek to a gorgeous sunset point. On the way we spotted a stone home, a potato godown and a potato farm where he was harvesting some of the best pahadi aloos I’ve seen. They were big and small… I asked if I could buy a few kgs and he handed me a bag and told me to take it without taking any money for it. I didn’t have change and he insisted I take it.”
The incredible chef that she is, Dhondy then brought these Pahadi Aloo home. “So I happily got them to our home in Mukteshwar and we tasted them in different recipes.. they were so delicious and they had a thin skin on it,” she went on to write on the post. “I knew I have to take these back to Delhi .. and this evening we trekked again, watched the sunset, went back to him and bought 10 kgs of aloos to take back home.”