Kashmiri Delicacy!
Hey all! I am originally from Kashmir, the Paradise of earth they say!
So I thought I would start by writing about something unique to the rich heritage of Kashmiri culture! And hence I chose ‘Dum Aloo’, one of the most loved Kashmiri delicacies. I assume that some of you have tasted “Kashmiri Dum Aloos” at restaurants. Those don’t even come close to authentic Kashmiri food as they’re the generalized variants of potatoes! You are better off trying to cook this delicacy at home using a recipe from a Kashmiri.
Being a Kashmiri, I have also tasted Dum aloo at many restaurants across India and in the USA. But I haven’t come across Kashmiri Dum Aloos that bring childhood memories!I have been cooking dum aloos for a few years now, but I never imagined that I would write about it someday. It’s one of the favorite foods in our family. When Dum Aloos are on the menu, our family gets all excited, especially when I am going to pair it with ‘Tahar‘. Even my 5 year old toddler, whose tolerance for spicy Indian food is “beginner” at best, loves Dum Aloos. She keeps drinking water at her side! Seeing her relish our cuisine, brings such joy to my heart.
I remember one of our close friends stopped by on the way to Newark, NJ a few month ago. We had leftover dum aloos, and he was more than happy to indulge himself. After he took his first bite, he was astonished by the taste of it. I wish I could have captured that moment. He mentioned that he had never tasted Dum aloos like these, despite having eaten at various restaurants and weddings before. Not bragging about my culinary skills, but its more about how the authentic Dum Aloos have a unique taste that is not found in restaurants.
Recently some friends, who were visiting us for Halloween, requested that I make the traditional Kashmiri Dum aloo. Of Course I was more than happy to cook! Now, as they were all relishing dinner, one of them mentioned he hates potatoes, but not this style! It was a proud moment to see no leftovers!
For years I thought people wouldn’t appreciate the taste and consequently never cooked Dum aloos for friends. But recently, I have come to realize, great food and recipes bring people together! Proud of being a Kashmiri!
Family, Food and Fitness 
Sooo you finally cooked some ‘traditional’ kashmiri dum aloo for us (we’ve known each other for 7 damn years, what were you waiting for !!?!??), I fell in love with it the moment I took a bite. We all were bowled over by the incredible flavors this simple dish had!
I’ve had kashmiri dum aloo before. But on whatever occasion we tried it, we got creamy, sweet gravy. After years of eating every dish made with peanut powder (Maharashtrian eh) the restaurant version was still good, just not the way you cooked it. So basically only dum aloo I knew was the one prepared in creamy sweet onion tomato gravy. But now our idea of dum aloo has changed, thanks to you ♥️😘
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I am an avid potato person, so any preparation that involves potatoes I really enjoy.. being a foodie helps too a little bit 🤤.
My idea of dum aloo has always been the yoghurt gravy with baby potatoes swimming in it. Any restaurant or any youtube channels you surf through its always the same recipe. So when virha told me if it’s a yoghurt gravy then it’s not kashmiri dum aloo.. I was intrigued, I wanted to try what she means by Kashmiri dum aloo. So when she made us this amazing recipe over the Halloween which was rich with flavors yet so simple in making I couldn’t stop eating specially when you have it with yellow rice with little bit of oil on top.. lip smackingly good..
You changed my idea of dum aloo. How some simple recipes can take you back to those childhood memories.. Though this was the first time I had kashmiri dum aloo from a kashmiri household even though we have been friends for 8+ years (not happy about it I should have had this dish atleast 800 times till now) you changed the notion. Sometimes regional recipes are so simple and so close to your heart.. this recipe is added to my soul food list.. I have been dreaming about dum aloo so it’s time to eat it soon.. 🤤
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