Bareilly’s Swal Aloo: A Popular Breakfast & Street Food From UP
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We are all familiar with Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, which became famous due to the classic Bollywood song 'Jhumka gira re Bareilly ke bazar mein’. But very few people know that this beautiful town also has a rich cuisine. Bareilly’s food is highly influenced by Mughlai cuisine and culture. Some popular dishes in the town are seekh kebab, chaat, revdi, and gajak. But have you ever heard of swal aloo?

Swal aloo is a tasty and filling dish that is typically enjoyed as a breakfast dish in Bareilly. Made with everyone’s favourite vegetable, potatoes, it is also a well-known street food in the town. However, this dish is extremely underrated outside of Bareilly, but it is definitely a must-try for all foodies. This dish mainly consists of spiced potatoes that are paired with triangular papdis, which are prepared from maida. 

Swal aloo is a simple yet scrumptious dish that can be commonly found at the street stalls of the city and is sometimes accompanied by dahi-jalebi. The combination might feel a bit odd, but just give it a try; it will steal your taste buds for sure. So, if you happen to visit Bareilly next time, do try the iconic swal aloo from the local shops.

You will find swal aloo at many places in the city, but the most popular shop is Puranpur Sweets. It is a local eatery that is located in Biharipur Dhal, Bareilly. They have been serving this scrumptious dish for more than 50 years. But if you would like to prepare swal aloo at home, here is an easy recipe: 

Total Time: 20 min. 

Servings- 2  

Ingredients

  • 2 cup maida
  • 1/2 teaspoon ajwain 
  • 1/3 teaspoon of salt 
  • 3 tablespoons of ghee 
  • 1/2 cup of water 
  • Oil for frying 
  • 4 potatoes 
  • coriander leaves as needed 
  • chaat masala as required 
  • red chilli powder as required
  • 1 green chilli

Method 

For swal 

  • In a bowl, take maida, add ajwain, ghee, and salt, and mix well. Then make the dough with water. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
  • Then make a ball of dough and roll it like roti with the help of a rolling pin. 
  • Cut it into small triangular shapes and deep fry them in oil. 

For aloo 

  • Pressure-cook the potatoes and cut them into medium-sized pieces.
  • Then add chaat masala, green chilli, and red chilli and mix well.
  • Garnish with coriander leaves, and your swal aloo is ready.