Bengal Potatoes
If you've got waxy potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 cm cubes, panch phoron and dried red chile, you're most of the way to this vegetarian: about 65 minutes of cooking across 7 steps. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 7 steps.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (6)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Peel and cube the potatoes, then pat them dry so they brown well rather than steam in the pan.
- Heat the ghee or oil in a heavy pan over medium heat, then add the panch phoron and whole dried chiles and let them sizzle for about 30 seconds until the seeds pop and turn fragrant; take care not to burn the spices.
- Add the potato cubes and toss to coat them in the spiced fat, frying for 6 to 8 minutes and turning occasionally until the edges begin to turn golden.
- Sprinkle in the turmeric, red chile powder, and salt, stirring for 1 minute so the spices coat the potatoes evenly without scorching.
- Pour in the water, cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and steam the potatoes for 12 to 15 minutes until they are tender when pierced with a knife.
- Uncover, raise the heat slightly, and cook off any remaining liquid for a few minutes so the potatoes are dry and lightly crisped at the edges.
- Taste for salt, garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve hot with rice, dal, or flatbread.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan · Large pot · Steamer
Tips & common questions
How long does Bengal Potatoes take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Bengal Potatoes vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Bengal Potatoes is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Spicy potato chips photographed in West Bengal, India, by Yogabrata Chakraborty, on June 30, 2023.jpg by Billjones94, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.