Aloo Pitika

Aloo Pitika is a signature side dish from Assam. It is a dish made with mashed potatoes mixed with few ingredients that enhances the flavor. The three basic ingredients which are combination of raw onions, salt and uncooked mustard oil is enough to take the whole platter to a different aromatic level. Sometimes aloo pitikas might even be garnished by finely chopped cilantro leaves, pumpkins, gourds, boiled eggs or even crushed dry fishes in the normal pitika. Making aloo pitika is quick as well as a simple process.

As a lover of simple platter I like to go for non-complicated cooking and usually use microwave oven to adjust with my working life. Recently, I tried making aloo pitika with potatoes cooked in micro-oven. Pitikas are usually made with boiled vegetables. Here is my recipe for a simple yet delicious pitika

Ingredients

1.  3 big sized potatoes
2.  1 medium sized fresh onion
3.  3 medium length fresh green chilies
4.  Salt to taste
5. 2 or  tsp of uncooked mustard oil

Note: The aroma and pungency in the pitika depends on the type of chilies used. The local chilies as found in Assam have different aroma and pungency. The Bhoot jolokia, if used gives completely different aroma to the pitika.

Preparation

1. Wash and peel the potatoes and cut into 2 inches cubes.
2. Keep the raw potato cubes properly arranged in regular spread out on a plate which is used for cooking in a micro-oven.
3. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes till potato cubes are spongy and good for mix. OR, cook them in a micro-oven bowl and covered. Whichever way they are cooked, check till the potatoes are spongy and texture ready for mashing.
4. When done, let the potato cubes cool
5. Chop the onion and green chilies, very finely
6. In a large mixing bowl, put the potatoes, finely chopped oinions and green chilies.
7. Sprinkle Salt to taste.
8. Sprinkle uncooked 2 or tsp of mustard oil.
9. With fork or with the bottom of big spoon, spadle, mash the potatoes. Best was to mash is by fingers. ( No, the chilies won’t get to your fingers )
10. With the help of both palms, make a ball of the mixture. The aloo pitika is ready.