Poori Masala | Puri Curry (Hotel Style Recipe)

Potato curries and Poori are a popular combination, when it comes to breakfast or brunch meals in Indian cuisine. This pair has various regional variations too. One such variant is the Poori Masala or Puri Curry. My recipe is a delicious hotel style version to make the potato curry or gravy enjoyed with the Indian fried bread Poori. This is a South Indian style recipe made with boiled potatoes, lots of onions, spices, lentils and herbs. Make this flavorful and tasty dish for a comforting weekend breakfast at your home.

About Poori Masala

Poori Masala, as the name suggests, is a well-known dish from South India that consists of deep-fried bread called ‘poori’ served with a flavorful, creamy and tasty potato curry known as ‘masala.’

This dish has its roots in South Indian cuisine, particularly in states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. It is a traditional breakfast or brunch combination; is considered a festive treat and is often part of celebratory feasts.

There are many potato-based curries made in the vast Indian cuisine. Like I said, this particular Puri Curry recipe is a special and unique potato gravy that is mostly served with pooris in the food culture of South India.

Also do not confuse it with the Potato Masala that is made for dosa. The dosa potato masala is dry, may include tomatoes or not, while poori masala has a curry like consistency and usually has tomatoes added to it.

However, the taste of the gravy is so good that it also pairs greatly with Dosa, Poha Dosa, Rava Dosa or even chapati.

Here, this South Indian Poori Masala can easily be considered as a unique variant of the North Indian Aloo Puri.

Typically, this recipe has ingredients like mustard seeds, lentils, curry leaves, etc. that are not used in the North Indian variants.

Different regions in South India too have their own variations of Puri Curry. For example, in Karnataka, the masala might include a unique blend of spices, while in Tamil Nadu, the flavors might be influenced by the local culinary traditions.

In addition to being a homemade dish, Poori Masala is also a popular street food dish. Street vendors often serve freshly fried pooris with piping hot potato masala, attracting locals and tourists alike. Some chopped onions and coconut chutney can also be served along with this dish.

How Is It Made

To make this delicious Poori Masala, you will need to boil the potatoes first. Peel and chop or crumble them. Sauté the spices, onions, curry leaves, ginger, green chillies, first.

Add gram flour and sauté further. Add tomatoes and when they are softened, add water and the chopped boiled potatoes. Simmer until you get the desired consistency.

My recipe of Puri Curry also includes plenty of onions and ginger. To give a smoothness and creaminess to the gravy, some gram flour (besan) is also added. It also helps in thickening the curry together with the potatoes.

Even in the various South Indian states and regions, this dish has some variations. In the state of Maharashtra, it is again made very differently and known as Poori Bhaji.

Many households have their secret ingredients or unique spice blends that they add to the masala to give it a distinct flavor. It could be a pinch of a special spice or a unique tempering technique that sets their Poori Masala apart.

In recent times, there has been a trend towards incorporating healthier ingredients into traditional dishes.

Thus, some variations of Puri Curry might include the use of sweet potatoes, carrots, beans, green peas, cauliflower or other vegetables to add nutritional value.

This dish of Poori Masala is one of those curried potato dishes that I sometimes make on Sundays. Not that I make pooris every time with the masala.

Often, I also make phulka or dosa to go along with the potato masala. Another favorite way of serving this Puri Curry is with Aamras, which makes for a super delectable meal.

Regional Variations

As I also mentioned, the 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 as per the different regions.

Some more potato based curry variations served with poori or fried bread, made across a few Indian states:

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Poori Masala

Cook Potatoes

1. First, rinse 2 large potatoes (about 400 grams) in fresh water a few times. Then, boil or steam the potatoes, adding water as needed, in a stovetop pressure cooker or steamer or Instant Pot.

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

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

Sauté Spices & Onions

3. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan, kadai or wok. Lower the heat and add 1 teaspoon mustard seeds. Crackle them.

You can use any neutral flavored oil.

4. Then, add 2 teaspoons husked split Bengal gram (chana dal), 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 teaspoon husked split black gram (urad dal), optional.

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

6. Add 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger, 2 to 3 teaspoons chopped green chilies and 10 to 12 curry leaves. Stir and mix well.

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

7. Then, add 8 to 10 chopped cashews.

Feel free to skip cashews, if you have nut allergy.

8. Stir and add 1 cup tightly packed thinly sliced onions (1 large onion, sliced).

Instead of onions, you can add shallots or pearl onions.

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, roti or poori made from gluten-free flours or millet flours.

10. Stir and mix again very well. Sauté the onions on low to medium-low heat, stirring often, until they turn translucent and are softened.

11. Now, add 2 teaspoons gram flour (besan).

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

13. Add ¼ cup chopped tomatoes (1 small tomato, chopped). Stir and sauté the tomatoes for 2 minutes.

Tomatoes give a light tang to the dish. Adding tomato is optional and you can skip it.

Make Poori Masala

14. Then, add 1.25 to 1.5 cups water.

You can vary the quantity 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.

15. Stir and mix thoroughly

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

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

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

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

19. Season with salt as per taste. Mix the salt with the rest of the Poori Curry.

You can also add a bit of sugar, if you want.

20. Lastly, add 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves. Mix very well and turn off the heat.

21. Serve South Indian style Poori Masala with poori, chapati, dosa or paratha.

It makes for a filling and comforting meal for breakfast or lunch.

Expert Tips

1. Use starchy potatoes types like Russet or Yukon Gold. 
2. The potatoes can be steamed or boiled in a stovetop pressure cooker, pan or Instant Pot, adding water as required. 
3. You can choose to skip the gram flour (besan), if you do not have it or swap it with chickpea flour.
4. Alter the consistency of the gravy a bit by making it thick or slightly thin, by adding less or more water.
5. For a gluten free version, skip asafoetida. And to make a gluten-free meal, serve the potato gravy with dosa or puri/roti made with gluten free flours or millet flours. 
6. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for a day only. The leftover gravy can be reheated in a small frying pan or sauté pan, adding water as required, if in case the gravy has thickened. 

FAQs

More South Indian Potato Recipes To Try!

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This Poori Masala recipe from the archives was first published in June 2015. It has been updated and republished on November 2024.