How does it feel to imagine something you have never experienced? I mostly end up thinking on those lines and always come up with a feeling of the sensation that happens in the mind and I have a vivid picture to accompany what I think. I have never been in a desert! And that's what I have thought of many times, how does it really feel, and the books that I happen to read during my childhood, have aided more to my imagination. The best has always been Tintin in the Land of Black Gold, where everybody keeps walking around the desert. I have read these books a countless number of times, so many times, that a part of my childhood stands frozen with memories associated with these books.

So when talking about deserts and the endless sands, I only think of the one desert state we have, Rajasthan. I have not visited this Rajasthan, though I have read so much about it and love the cuisine. I do include these in my regular cooking and don't realize that I haven't visited this place. When I had to decide on a bread, when I have almost made most of the bread that's made here, I thought I will really have to look around a lot.

However, my search ended much earlier than I thought when I read about Vikas Khanna's Khoba Roti. He talks about food is an art form and this intricate, beautifully designed bread will make you want to pack your bags and travel to Rajasthan. How true!

I was fixed on my Khoba Roti and wanted a subzi for it. When I visited Vaishali, she introduced me to her Rajasthan friend. Before we could even exchange pleasantries, we were shamelessly asking her to share her recipes. This happened across mehndi function, when intricate designs were being put on our hands, I was thinking of the Khoba bread. She was telling us that they know at least 40 different ways to make Potatoes and was telling us about tomato launji. With our hands being unavailable, Nandini thought we would be smart enough to record her recollecting the recipe. Vaishali's friends thought we were out of the world, maybe even thinking that we were nuts in their minds. However, we were beyond that.

It was really sad that Nandini's phone crashed and we lost the smart thing we thought of.

And without that, I had to resort to making a different Aloo Ki subzi that I had, which is from Rajasthan again, so enjoy.

Aloo Ki Subzi

Ingredients Needed:

Aloo - 2 cups, boiled and cubed
Onions - 2 medium / 3/4 minced
Tomatoes - 3 medium
Oil + Ghee - 3 tsp
Bay leaf - 1 big
Fennel - 1/4 tsp
Kalonji - 1/4 tsp
Methi seeds - few
Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Red chili powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder 1 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp
Curds - 1/2 cup
Cream - 1/2 cup
Coriander leaves for garnish

How to make the Aloo Ki Subzi

Pressure cook or MW Aloo for 8 - 9 till fork soft. Peel and cube, keep it aside.

In a nonstick pan, heat oil, ghee, add minced onions, saute well.

Then add the whole spices, saute well. Next add tomato puree, cook well.

Add all the spices along with salt and cook on high, as you keep stirring.

Cover it with lid and make sure the tomatoes are cooked well.

Now add the cubed aloo, curds, and simmer till curds is blended well.

Add water and bring to boil. Now add the cream and simmer for 5 - 7 mins.

Finally, add finely chopped coriander leaves.

Serve with Khoba Roti

Khoba Roti | Moti Roti

Ingredients Needed:

All purpose flour - 2 cups
Carom seeds/ Ajwain - 1 tsp
Red Chilli flakes - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Clarified Butter/ Ghee - 2 tsp

How to make Khoba Roti

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, carom seeds, chilli flakes and salt with 2 tbsp of ghee. Mix very well and knead in enough water to make a soft pliable dough. Cover with a moist muslin and keep aside for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, divide the dough in half. Roll out each half into a thick roti of about 12 to 14-inch diameter.

Beginning from the centre and moving outwards, pinch the surface of the roti to make a design on the roti. Repeat for the second roti.

Heat a griddle over a low flame, place the roti design side up and cook over a gentle heat. Drizzle over the top and on sides with ghee. When one side is cooked golden, carefully turn the roti over and cook on the other side. Repeat for other roti.

Serve hot with Aloo Ki Subzi

Notes:

The top design can be done directly on the tawa or on board. I felt making on the board was much better than on the hot tawa.

I strongly recommend sprinkling red chili flakes over the top, else it does tend to be thick plain roti.

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Recipe

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Khoba Roti, Aloo Ki Subzi from Rajasthan

Cuisine Rajasthan

Dish Type Indian Flatbread

Author Srivalli

Tried this recipe?Mention @spicingyourlife_ or tag #spicingyourlife_!

Comments

Nivedhanams Sowmya says

April 24, 2014 at 9:23 am

loving the roti!! and it is very sad to see the stored recipes go away.. so hard to remember / get them again!!!

vaishali sabnani says

April 25, 2014 at 1:17 am

Omg..I ad no clue as to what was going on during the mehndi function..and let me catch of this Rajasthani friend to give me all those 40 recipes!...we have studied together since the very first day of school....and to look at this roti it is a treat, it looks beautiful and a must try.very very well made..

Varadas Kitchen says

April 25, 2014 at 2:09 pm

Beautiful indeed! The roti looks really nice. Must try it sometime.

Loved your desert story, let me add another twist to it. Majority of land designated as desert does not have sand dunes. 🙂

Pavani N says

April 30, 2014 at 7:47 pm

Love that beautiful design on the roti Valli. It almost looks like a work of art. Amazing. Aloo ki subzi sounds delicious.

Harini-Jaya R says

April 30, 2014 at 8:23 pm

The khoba roti looks very beautiful just as the henna would have looked on your palms 🙂

Archana Potdar says

May 03, 2014 at 3:30 pm

I know our smart idea ina crash. but you hav emanaged to make it awesomely beautiful. I loev the koba roti

Padmajha PJ says

May 05, 2014 at 3:53 am

I did visit a few places in Rajastan but did not catch a glimpse of the sands.So if you are going there I am coming with you :).
And enjoyed reading your recipe quest adventure though it is sad you lost it.
The roti has come out so well Srivalli!

Nalini's Kitchen says

May 05, 2014 at 1:29 pm

Very well made Valli..Loved the patterns on the roti...nice stepwise tutorial..

Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

May 06, 2014 at 4:31 am

That khoba roti is so well made! I am tempted to try this soon.

Usha says

May 08, 2014 at 1:17 pm

So those dark lines on the roti are from the design. Looking at the pictures I was wondering how you got those dark lines on the roti. Nicely done.

sorry Nandini's phone crashed and lost the aloo recipe Vaishali's friend gave.

Chef Mireille says

May 26, 2014 at 3:51 am

I had loved this roti when I made it months back when I did Rajasthan - yours version looks so good and the potato curry also

Manjula Bharath says

May 27, 2014 at 7:26 pm

wow am so glad to land on my home town 🙂 Khobha roti is one traditional dish I love the most looks fabulous valli , aloo ki sabzi makes me hungry now , just wat I need 🙂

Sapana Behl says

May 29, 2014 at 8:45 am

Khoba roti sounds a bit tricky ...lovely combo !

Jayanthi Padmanabhan says

May 30, 2014 at 10:40 am

these khoba rotis look so different. i wondered how you made them.. love the aloo side dish also

Suma Gandlur says

August 01, 2014 at 1:25 am

That roti has got a lovely pattern, Valli. Very impressive.

Recipe

Khoba Roti, Aloo Ki Subzi from Rajasthan

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