Potato Bhorta – Bangladeshi Comfort Food
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Bhortas are the simplest form of comfort food in Bangladesh. It’s basically anything good mashed together and served with rice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2-3 medium size potatoes
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) mustard oil
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 2-3 red chilies
- 1/4 onion, thinly sliced
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Roast garlic and chili on stove or in oven
- Boil potatoes until soft
- Peel potatoes and mash smoothly
- Mash garlic, chili and salt together, add onion
- Add mashed potatoes
- Add oil and mix well
Notes
- This is the original way of making Bhorta Adjust chili and garlic according to taste
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
- Loaded Baked Potato Casserole with Broccoli and Cheddar
- Miso and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Provolone Potatoes au Gratin
- Rustic Italian Meatball and Potato Soup
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mustard oil and why is it used in this bhorta?
Mustard oil is a pungent, sharp-tasting oil pressed from mustard seeds that is a staple in Bangladeshi and Bengali cooking. The 2 tbsp added to the mashed potato mixture give bhorta its characteristic bold, slightly bitter flavor that differentiates it from plain mashed potatoes.
Should the garlic and chili be roasted before mashing?
Yes—the first step is to roast the 4–5 garlic cloves and 2–3 red chilies on the stove or in the oven before mashing them with salt. Roasting mellows the raw sharpness of the garlic and develops a slight smokiness that the notes describe as the original way of making bhorta.
Thank you for sharing this! I am having new friends over in a few days for dinner. They are from Bangladesh. I was hoping to find something simple to serve them that would honor their home. Every place has comfort food, I so glad to find something I will be able to make.