PM Modi approves establishment of International Potato Centre in Uttar Pradesh: 9 potato dishes from the state that are a must-try

Potatoes, also called the King of Vegetables, are known for their versatility and culinary popularity. This particular root vegetable has not just helped people beat hunger, it is also a key source of income for many farmers across India. With the motive to enhance the standards of farmers, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a proposal from the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare to establish International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia Regional Centre (CSARC) at Agra, Uttar Pradesh. According to a PIB release, the major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers' income, and job creation by improving potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition.

According to the release, the potato sector in India has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production sector, processing sector, packaging, transportation, marketing, value chain, etc. Hence, in order to untap and explore the huge potential in this sector, International Potato Centre (CIP) ‘s south Asia regional Centre is being established at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh. High yielding, nutrient and climate resilient varieties of potato and sweetpotato developed by CSARC will significantly accelerate the sustainable development of the potato and sweetpotato sectors not only in India but in the South Asia region also through world-class science and innovation.

This is a classic and thin spicy potato curry made without onion or garlic, flavoured with hing and whole spices. It uses boiled mashed potatoes and is best served with hot pooris.

This is a famous every household dish of UP and is served as a side dish with dal and chawal. It refers to mashed boiled potatoes, seasoned with onion, roasted dried red chillies, salt, lemon juice, and raw mustard oil.

A must-have in Mathura and Agra, it is a classic breafkast delight, where crispy urad dal-stuffed puris are paired with a tangy, spiced aloo curry, which mostly doesn't use onion and garlic in its preparation.

A classic evening snack dish, which is made with boiled potatoes and is stuffed with dal and makes for a golden crip patty, served with curd and chutney.

This is a curry dish native to Banaras. It is made with baby potatoes and simmered in a rich piced tomato-based gravy. It is best served with poori.

As the name suggests, it's a crispy deep-fried breakfast delight made with refined flour dough and stuffed with spicy mashed potato filling. It is best served with aloo ki sabzi or chutney.

This is a popular evening snack, where shallow fried crispy potato cubes are topped with curd, chutneys, chaat masala, salt, pepper, onion, sev, and pomegrante seeds.

This is a dry sabzi, enjoyed with dal chawal or ajwain paratha. Mostly made in an iron kadhai, this dish uses musatrd oil, potatoes, green chilli, salt, turmeric, and lots of cumin seeds for its preparation.

This is a gravy preparation, where boiled dices of potatoes are cooked in a tangy tomato gravy, seasoned with ginger garlic paste, and ground spices. It is garnished with kasuri methi and best enjoyed with steamed rice or ajwain poori.

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