Nostalgic North Indian Breakfast
Bedmi Pooris (crispy urad-dal-stuffed puris) with a bowl of hot Aloo Sabzi – a classic combination that instantly transports many North Indians to festive mornings of their childhood. In the lanes and dhabas of Delhi, Agra and Mathura, this duo is celebrated as a comforting breakfast. In fact, recipe writers note that “Bedmi Puri is a favourite street food of Delhi, Agra, [and] Mathura”, often paired with spicy potato curry. It’s known by many names (Bedai Puri, Bedvi Puri) and hails from Uttar Pradesh—Agra, Mathura and Aligarh in particular. Each crispy, wheat-and-dal puri is filled with a warmly spiced urad-dal mixture, so that every bite is both crunchy and deeply savory. The dish tastes best when paired with spicy, chatpati aloo sabzi – a thin, tangy potato curry that perfectly balances the richness of the puris.
Ingredients
For the Bedmi Poori: Whole wheat flour (atta) – about 2 cups; semolina (sooji) – ~½ cup; a pinch of baking soda; salt to taste; 2–3 tbsp oil or ghee. Stuffing: 1 cup dhuli urad dal (split black gram, soaked 4–5 hours); finely chopped 1–2 green chilies; 1-inch ginger (grated); a few tablespoons chopped cilantro; ¼ tsp each red chili powder, garam masala, amchur (dry mango) powder; a big pinch of asafoetida (hing); salt. (These spices in the dal paste give the stuffing its characteristic tangy, spicy flavor.)
For the Aloo Sabzi: 3–4 medium potatoes (boiled, peeled, roughly crushed); 3–4 ripe tomatoes (pureed) or 2/3 cup canned tomato purée; 2 tbsp oil. Whole spices for tempering: 1 bay leaf, 2–3 cardamom pods, 4–5 cloves, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds. Other spices: 1 tsp turmeric, 1–2 tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste), ½–1 tsp coriander powder, salt. Optional: 1 tbsp roasted gram flour (besan) or a pinch of fenugreek (kasuri methi) for extra body. A thumb of ginger (julienned) and a couple of slit green chilies add fresh heat. Fresh cilantro to garnish. (A typical recipe uses a hearty spice mix including bay leaf, cardamom, cloves, fennel, cumin and ginger in the tempering before adding the tomato base.)
Step-by-Step Preparation
1. Soak and grind the dal stuffing: Drain the soaked urad dal. Grind it coarsely with a little water, incorporating the whole spices (fennel, cumin) and green chili. If the paste is too smooth, the puris won’t puff well; too coarse and they may not seal properly. Transfer this dal paste to a bowl. Stir in red chili powder, garam masala, amchur powder, asafoetida and salt, then mix thoroughly. (Nishamadhulika suggests you can also lightly roast this mixed stuffing in a pan for 2–3 minutes for extra aroma.) Set the flavorful dal stuffing aside to cool slightly.
2. Make the dough: In another bowl, combine the wheat flour, semolina, a pinch of baking soda, salt and oil. Mix well so the flour is crumbly. Gradually add water and knead into a smooth, stiff dough (a little firmer than for regular pooris). Knead briefly more once dough comes together. Cover and let it rest 20–30 minutes. (Resting hydrates the semolina and firms the dough; as Nishamadhulika notes, “cover the dough and keep it aside for 20 minutes” before shaping.) The dough should be pliable but not sticky.
3. Stuff and roll the puris: Divide the dough into small golf-ball-sized portions and shape into smooth balls. Also divide the dal stuffing into equal portions (about 15–18, or one per dough ball). Flatten one dough ball in your palm and place a portion of stuffing in the center. Carefully seal the edges, enclosing the dal mixture completely. Gently flatten the stuffed ball. Lightly oil a rolling pin and gently roll each stuffed ball into a round puri about 3–4 inches across (a bit thicker than a regular poori so it doesn’t tear). Dust with flour as needed. Repeat for remaining balls.
4. Fry the Bedmi Pooris: Heat 1–1.5 inches of oil in a heavy kadai or deep pan over medium-high heat. Test the temperature: a small piece of dough should sizzle and puff immediately. Slide one puri into the hot oil and gently press with a slotted spoon to help it puff up into a ball. Fry on medium heat, turning once, until both sides are golden and crisp. (If oil is too cool the pooris will absorb oil and sag; if too hot they brown too fast. Keep it hot enough for a quick puff but moderate the flame to crisp slowly.) Remove the puri and drain on paper towels. Fry the rest similarly. You should end up with puffed, golden Bedmi Pooris that are slightly thicker and crunchier than regular pooris.
5. Cook the spicy Aloo Sabzi: While the pooris fry, prepare the potato curry. Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the bay leaf, cardamoms, cloves, fennel and cumin to the oil and let them sizzle briefly. Then add the ginger and slit green chilies; sauté 30 seconds. Pour in the tomato purée and stir. Cook on medium heat until the tomatoes thicken and the oil separates at the edges. Now add turmeric, red chili and coriander powders and roasted besan. Mix well and sauté for a minute. Add about ¾–1 cup water and salt, and bring to a boil. Then toss in the crushed potatoes and stir gently to coat them. Simmer the curry for 3–5 minutes so the potatoes absorb the spices. Finally, add a pinch of garam masala, kasuri methi and chopped cilantro; stir and turn off the heat. The result is a thin, tangy potato curry – Rasedaar Aloo Sabzi – perfect for dipping. (This “thin gravy” style is traditional, so don’t worry if it’s looser than other curries. Dunking the hot puris into it is part of the fun.)
6. Serve hot: Plate the crisp Bedmi Pooris immediately after frying and ladle the hot aloo sabzi into a bowl. Serve them steaming together. Traditionally, a dollop of mint-coriander chutney or a spoonful of sweet yogurt (raita) accompanies them. These puris are best enjoyed fresh – the contrast of the crunchy puri and the piping-hot, spicy potato curry is irresistible. Sprinkle extra cilantro on the sabzi and perhaps offer pickles or a suji halwa on the side to complete the festive spread.
Tips for Success
Oil temperature: Always heat the oil well. It should be hot enough that the puris instantly puff when added. If the oil is lukewarm, the pooris will absorb oil and go limp. As one recipe notes, “oil should be really hot otherwise puri will not puff up.” Press gently on each puri during frying to encourage puffing.
Rest the dough: Don’t skip the resting time. Cover the kneaded dough and let it sit for about 20–30 minutes. This gives the semolina time to absorb moisture and firm up, yielding puffier, crispier pooris.
Season well: The secret to flavorful Bedmi Poori is in the stuffing. Include fragrant spices (asafoetida, red chili, amchur, garam masala, ginger and green chili) in the urad dal paste. Asafoetida (hing) is especially traditional and adds an unmistakable aroma.
Crunch factor: Semolina (suji) in the dough adds crunch. If you prefer extra crispness, you can increase it slightly or add a pinch of crushed fennel or ajwain (carom seeds) to the dough.
Serve promptly: These pooris are best eaten immediately, piping hot. They turn soft if left standing. Pair them with the hot aloo sabzi and condiments right away to enjoy the full “phut phut” crunchy texture.
Accompaniments: Serve the Bedmi Pooris with sides like mint-coriander chutney, sweet yogurt (raita) or pickle. As Nishamadhulika suggests, they traditionally go well with Aloo Masala and Suji Halwa for special occasions. Fresh lemon wedges can also brighten the tangy curry.
The Pinch of Masala 