This sharp and tangy mashed potato dish is delicious and a breeze to make. There are various iterations of it: bhorta (meaning mashed) in Bengal, bharta in Northern India and chokha in Bihar. In Bengal, raw mustard oil is added to give a magical zing to the side dish, which is often served at room temperature. These scrumptious and slightly pungent mashed potatoes will add a buzz to your Thanksgiving meal and lead to some interesting discussions.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr |
| Active: | 15 min |
| Yield: | 4 to 6 servings |
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr |
| Active: | 15 min |
| Yield: | 4 to 6 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 pound russet potatoes
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems (from about 1 small bunch), chopped (about 1/2 cup chopped)
- 2 tablespoons mustard oil (see Cook’s Note), plus more if desired
- 2 to 4 Thai green chiles or 1 to 2 serrano chiles, finely chopped
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 1 lime, juiced (about 2 tablespoons), plus more if desired
Instructions
- Put the potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold water. Generously salt the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to medium and gently simmer until the potatoes are completely tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 30 to 40 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes, peel them carefully and return them to the pot. Mash the potatoes well with a potato masher.
- Add the cilantro, mustard oil, chiles, red onion, lime juice and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. With a fork (or with your hands), mix into the mashed potatoes until evenly distributed. Taste and add more lime juice, salt and chiles if needed. If you like a sharper, more pungent taste (as I do), add a little more mustard oil.
- Serve in a bowl or make individual balls the size of Ping-Pong balls. You can make this up to a day in advance and keep in the refrigerator. But remember to remove it about an hour before serving so it comes to room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 111 |
| Total Fat | 5 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 253 mg |
| Serving Size | 1 of 6 servings |
| Calories | 111 |
| Total Fat | 5 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 16 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Protein | 2 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 253 mg |