Poori Masala | Puri Curry (Hotel Style Recipe)

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This Poori Masala is a delicious hotel style recipe to make the potato curry or gravy that is always enjoyed with poori. This dish gets its name Poori Masala or Puri Curry as it is served as a side dish with Poori (Indian fry bread). This South Indian Puri Curry is made with boiled potatoes, lots of onions, spices, lentils and herbs. Make this flavorful and tasty dish for a comforting weekend breakfast.

poori masala and aamras, served in two glass bowls with poori on a white plate with text layovers.

About Poori Masala

There are many potato based curries made in the vast Indian cuisine. The Poori Masala is a special and unique potato gravy that is mostly served with poori. But the gravy is so good that it also tastes great with Dosa or poha dosa, Rava Dosa or even phulka.

This combination of poori with a potato gravy is very popular all over India. While the poori recipe remains the same, the potato gravy takes on different flavors and tastes.

This recipe is a South Indian variation of North Indian Aloo Puri and its taste is very different than the North Indian variations. As typically ingredients like mustard seeds, lentils, curry leaves etc are not used in the North Indian variants.

The South Indian variants also include plenty of onions while making this dish. Even in the various South Indian states and regions, this dish has some variations. In the state of Maharashtra, it is made again very differently and known as Poori Bhaji.

The dish is one of those curried potato dishes that I sometimes make on Sundays. Not that I make poori every time. I also make phulka or dosa to go along with this dish.

Poori Curry makes for a good breakfast or lunch or brunch. When I took the photos, I had also made Aamras to go along with the poori. This combination of aamras and any potato sabji with pooris is too good.

You can serve the potato gravy with Poori or phulka or with a side of chopped onions or coconut chutney.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Poori Masala

Cook Potatoes

1. First rinse 2 large sized potatoes (about 400 grams) in fresh water a few times. Then Boil or steam the potatoes in a stovetop pressure cooker or steamer or Instant pot.

If pressure cooking, then pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles on medium heat adding enough water covering the potatoes. They should be softened and fork tender.

steamed two potatoes in a pan.

2. When the potatoes are still warm, peel and crumble them. You can also chop them and keep them aside. You should be able to get 2 cups of tightly packed crumbled potatoes.

crumbled potatoes in a glass bowl.

Sauté Spices, Onions

3. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan or kadai or wok. You can use any neutral flavored oil. Lower the heat and add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds. Crackle them.

mustard seeds in oil in pan.

4. Then add the following ingredients:

  • 2 teaspoons chana dal (husked split bengal gram)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon urad dal (husked split black gram) – optional
more spices and lentils in pan.

5. Stir and fry till the lentils become golden. Ensure that the lentils turned golden but should not get burnt. So stir often on a low heat.

frying lentils and spices in pan

6. Then add 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger, 2 to 3 teaspoons chopped green chilies and 10 to 12 curry leaves.

You can reduce the amount of green chilies if you want. The chilies I used were very mild, so I added 2 of them.

chopped ginger, curry leaves, green chillies in pan.

7. Then add 8 to 10 cashews, which have been chopped. Feel free to skip cashews if you have nut allergy.

chopped cashews in pan.

8. Stir and then add 1 cup tightly packed thinly sliced onions (1 large onion, sliced). Instead of onions you can add shallots or pearl onions.

sliced onions in pan.

9. Add a pinch of asafoetida (hing) and ⅓ to ½ teaspoon turmeric powder.

To make a gluten-free dish you can skip asafoetida and serve this Poori Curry with dosa or roti or poori made from gluten-free flours or millet flours.

turmeric powder on sliced onions in pan.

10. Stir and mix very well. Saute the onions on low to medium low heat stirring often till they turn translucent.

cooked onions in pan.

11. Now add 2 teaspoons besan or gram flour.

gram flour on top of cooked onions in pan.

12. Stir and mix the gram flour very well with the rest of the ingredients.

gram flour mixed and sautéed with onions

13. Add ¼ cup chopped tomatoes (about 1 small tomato, chopped). Tomatoes give a light tang to the dish.

Adding tomato is optional and you can skip it. Stir and saute the tomatoes for 2 minutes.

chopped tomatoes on a bed of cooked onions in pan.

Make Poori Masala

14. Then add 1.25 to 1.5 cups water. You can vary the amount of water depending upon the consistency you prefer.

For a thicker consistency add less water and for a slightly thinner gravy consistency add a bit more water.

water in pan with cooked onions and other ingredients.

15. Stir and mix very well.

puri curry getting ready to cook.

16. Bring this mixture to a simmer without a lid for about 4 to 5 minutes on low to medium heat.

simmering puri curry in pan.

17. Now add the crumbled or chopped potatoes and stir very well.

potatoes on the curry in pan.

18. Cover the pan with a lid and simmer the gravy for 4 to 5 minutes on low to medium heat. 

The gravy should thicken and have the right consistency that is not too thick nor thin. But according to your preferences, you can vary the consistency.

pan covered with lid.

19. Season with salt as per taste. Mix the salt with the rest of the puri curry. You can also add a bit of sugar if you want.

salt being added to poori masala in pan.

20. Lastly add 2 to 3 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves. Stir very well and switch off the heat.

chopped cilantro on top of puri curry in pan.

21. Serve South Indian Poori Masala with poori or chapati or dosa or paratha. It makes for a filling and comforting meal for breakfast or lunch.

poori masala in a glass bowl with puri placed at the top.

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

poori masala and aamras, served in two glass bowls with poori on a white plate with text layover.

Poori Masala Recipe | Puri Curry

This South Indian Poori masala or Puri Curry is made with boiled potatoes, aromatics, herbs, lentils and spices. Make this flavorful and tasty potato gravy for a comforting breakfast. Best paired with poori and also pairs well with dosa or chapati.
4.80 from 53 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Cuisine South Indian, Tamil Nadu
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

  • 2 potatoes – large sized, 400 grams or 2 cups tightly packed crumbled boiled potatoes
  • 1 cup thinly sliced onions – 150 grams or 1 large onion
  • ¼ cup chopped tomatoes – 40 to 50 grams or 1 small tomato, optional
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger – or 1 to 1.5 inches ginger
  • 2 to 3 teaspoons chopped green chilies 2 to 3 green chilies, reduce the amount of green chilies if you want
  • 1 sprig curry leaf or 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoons chana dal (husked split bengal gram)
  • 1 teaspoon urad dal (husked split black gram), optional
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
  • ⅓ to ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 8 to 10 cashews – chopped
  • 2 teaspoons besan (gram flour)
  • 1.25 to 1.5 cups water or add as required
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • ½ teaspoon sugar or add as required, optional
  • salt as required

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Rinse the potatoes very well in water Boil or steam them in a pressure cooker or steamer or Instant Pot. If pressure cooking, then pressure cook for 5 to 6 whistles on medium heat with water completely covering the potatoes.
  • Cook potatoes until they are softened and fork tender. Drain the water and set aside the potatoes to cool.
  • When the potatoes are still warm, peel and crumble them. You can also chop them and keep aside.
  • Peel, rinse and thinly slice the onions. Also chop the tomatoes, ginger, green chilies and coriander leaves. Rinse and dry the curry leaves in a kitchen towel. Chop the cashews.

Sautéing spices, onions and tomatoes

  • Heat in a pan or kadai (wok). Lower the heat and add mustard seeds. Crackle them.
  • Then add the chana dal, cumin seeds and urad dal (optional).
  • Stir and fry till the dals or lentils become golden ensuring that they do not burn.
  • Add finely chopped ginger, chopped green chilies and curry leaves.
  • Then add the cashews, which have been chopped.
  • Stir and then add the thinly sliced onions.
  • Add a pinch of asafoetida and turmeric powder.
  • Stir very well and sauté the onions till they become translucent.
  • Now add the besan or gram flour. Mix the besan very well with the rest of the ingredients.
  • Add chopped tomatoes. Adding tomatoes are optional and you can skip it. Stir and sauté the tomatoes for 2 minutes.

Making Poori Masala

  • Then add water. Mix very well.
  • Bring this mixture to a simmer. About 4 to 5 minutes on a low to medium heat.
  • Now add the crumbled or chopped potatoes and stir very well.
  • Cover and simmer the potato gravy for 4 to 5 minutes on a low to medium heat. The gravy should thicken and have a right consistency which is not too thick nor thin.
  • Season with salt as per taste. Mix the salt with the rest of the potato gravy. You can also add a bit of sugar if you want.
  • Lastly add the chopped coriander leaves. Stir very well and switch off the heat.
  • Serve Poori Masala or Puri Curry with poori or chapati or dosa.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Poori Masala Recipe | Puri Curry
Amount Per Serving
Calories 281 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 9g
Sodium 507mg22%
Potassium 750mg21%
Carbohydrates 38g13%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 269IU5%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 40mg200%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 102mg124%
Vitamin E 4mg27%
Vitamin K 7µg7%
Calcium 66mg7%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 442µg111%
Iron 3mg17%
Magnesium 63mg16%
Phosphorus 141mg14%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Poori Masala recipe post from the archives first published in June 2015 has been republished and updated on 3 October 2021.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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