Chef Kunal Kapur says this childhood favourite aloo gobi recipe 'will make you miss home'; shares useful cooking tips

Missing the taste of home? Chef Kunal Kapur shares his childhood favourite aloo gobi recipe and easy tips for making the comforting dish perfectly.

Nothing beats the comfort of a simple, home-cooked meal. For celebrity chef Kunal Kapur, aloo gobi is one such dish that instantly brings back childhood memories. In a July 21 Instagram video, the chef recreated his family's version of the classic potato and cauliflower curry while sharing practical cooking tips to ensure the vegetables stay perfectly cooked and flavorful.

Introducing the recipe, Chef Kunal says, “Homemade memories and comfort food have a different flavour. Aloo gobi has been one of my favourite dishes since childhood. Today, I'm recreating it step by step. This dish will be so delicious that you'll miss home. Let's fill the kitchen with the flavour of desi comfort, Chef Kunal style.”

Chef Kunal Kapur's homestyle aloo gobi recipe

Ingredients

• 2 medium potatoes, cut into medium-sized cubes
• 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
• Water (for soaking)
• Salt, to taste
• Turmeric powder
• Mustard oil (or regular oil/desi ghee)
• A pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp chopped ginger
• 2 green chillies, chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, finely chopped
• Red chilli powder
• Coriander powder
• Chaat masala
• Garam masala
• Kasuri methi
• Fresh coriander leaves

Method

1. Cut the potatoes into medium-sized cubes and the cauliflower into medium florets. Soak the cauliflower in water with a little salt and turmeric.

2. Heat mustard oil in a pan. Add hing and cumin seeds, followed by ginger, green chillies and onions. Sauté until the onions turn golden.

3. Add chopped tomatoes and salt. Cook until the tomatoes soften.

4. Add turmeric, red chilli powder and coriander powder. Cook the spices for about a minute.

5. Add the potatoes and mix well. Sprinkle a little water, cover and cook on low heat for about 5 minutes.

6. Add the drained cauliflower, mixing gently so the florets don't break. Add a splash of water if needed, cover and cook until both vegetables are tender.

7. Finish with chaat masala, garam masala, crushed Kasuri methi and fresh coriander. Mix gently and serve hot.

Chef Kunal Kapur's tips for perfect aloo gobi

Chef Kunal recommends using equal amounts of potatoes and cauliflower, cutting the florets evenly to avoid wastage, and soaking the cauliflower in salt and turmeric water before cooking to remove any insects.

He prefers mustard oil for its authentic flavour but says regular oil or desi ghee works too. He also advises cooking the spices for just a minute, partially cooking the potatoes before adding the cauliflower, stirring the vegetables gently so the florets don't break, and finishing the dish with Kasuri methi, garam masala, chaat masala and fresh coriander for extra flavour.