Aloo Bonda happens to be one of my all-time favorite potato snacks. Hence, also referred to as potato bonda, it is nothing but super yummy snack of spiced mashed potatoes, formed into a ball, covered in a gram flour or chickpea flour (besan) batter and deep-fried to perfection. The ingredient list may be a bit long, but the Aloo Bonda Recipe is quite simple and easy to make. It is also not just a filling vegetarian dish but also is vegan-friendly.
Aloo bonda are the South Indian version of the popular Maharashtrian Batata vada. The difference between both these versions is the spices used in the mashed potato filling.
Also in the South Indian bonda, in the batter rice flour is added along with gram flour. Whereas in the Maharashtrian version, rice flour is usually not added to the batter.
In fact Indian regional cuisine is rich with many popular snacks. In North India Samosa, Kachori, Dahi vada etc are quite popular. Whereas in south India idli, masala dosa, medu vada, Mysore bonda etc are very popular.
You can serve aloo bonda hot with coconut chutney or tomato ketchup or coriander chutney or mint chutney. A cup of hot tea will also go well with them. I served these crisp hot snacks with coconut chutney.
To make a no onion no garlic version of bonda just skip the onion and garlic from this recipe.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to make for Aloo Bonda
- First rinse 4 to 5 medium size potatoes in fresh water. Then boil the potatoes in stovetop pressure cooker or steamer or pot or Instant pot adding water as required.
When the potatoes become warm, peel and then mash them with a fork or potato masher.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan. Add 1 teaspoon mustard and 1 or 1.5 teaspoon urad dal (spilt and husked black gram).
Allow the mustard seeds to splutter and the urad dal to get golden.
3. Add 1 medium-sized finely chopped onion and saute them stirring often till they are translucent and get softened.
4. Now add 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste, 12 to 15 curry leaves and 1 or 2 finely chopped green chilies. Saute for a minute.
5. Add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) and stir.
6. Now add 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves and salt according to taste. Stir and mix.
7. Add the potatoes to this mixture or add this sauteed mixture to the potatoes.
8. Stir and mix well. If there is moisture in the mashed potatoes, then you can cook the potato mixture for a few minutes.
Add ⅓ to ½ teaspoon lemon juice and mix well. Check the seasoning and add more salt or red chili powder or lemon juice if required.
9. Make small to medium-sized balls from this mixture. I usually lightly flatten these balls for ease of frying.
Frying aloo bonda
10. In a mixing bowl take the following ingredients for making the batter
- 1 cup besan or gram flour
- ¼ cup rice flour
- ⅓ to ½ cup water or add as required
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder
- 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
- 1 pinch baking soda (optional)
- salt as required
11. Mix very well and make a thick flowing batter with all the ingredients.
12. Heat oil for deep frying aloo bonda in a kadai or pan. Once the oil becomes medium hot then dip each potato ball in the batter and coat it well with the batter. Add the batter coated potato balls in medium hot oil carefully.
13. Fry till golden on both sides. Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
14. Serve aloo bonda hot with coconut chutney or tomato ketchup or any green chutney of your choice.
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Aloo Bonda
This potato bonda is a fried tea time snack from the South Indian cuisine. Aloo bonda is made with gram flour & rice flour batter & stuffed with spiced mashed potato filling.
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 1 hr
for aloo bonda batter
for stuffing
other ingredients
making stuffing
First boil the potatoes in a pan or steamer or pressure cooker. Then peel and mash them when still warm.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Add the mustard and urad dal.
Allow the mustard seed to splutter and the urad dal to get golden.
Add the chopped onion and saute till they are translucent and soften.
Now add the ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves and green chilies. Saute for a minute.
Add the turmeric powder, asafoetida and stir. Now add the coriander leaves and stir.
Add the potatoes to this mixture or add this sauted mixture to the potatoes. Stir well.
If there is moisture, then you can cook the potato mixture for a few minutes.
Add lemon juice & salt. Mix well.
Check the seasoning and add more salt or red chili powder or lemon juice if required.
Make medium sized balls from this mixture.
frying aloo bonda
Heat oil for deep frying in a kadai or pan. Dip each potato ball in the batter and coat it well with the batter.
Add the batter coated potato balls in the medium hot oil.
Fry till golden on both sides. Drain them on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serve aloo bonda hot with coconut chutney or tomato ketchup.
- Seasonings, spice powders and lemon juice can be adjusted in the potato mixture, according to your taste preferences.
- You can easily make this recipe without adding any onion or garlic to it.
- Want to make spicier bondas? Then, add a few more green chilies in the potato mixture. If you want, you can also add some red chili powder in the potato mixture.
This Aloo Bonda post from the archives first published in March 2014 has been updated and republished on December 2022.
Source: Dassana’s Veg Recipes
