Even though the word aloo (आलू) means potato in Hindi, traditional Goan vindalho does not include any potatoes, as the name is a corruption of a Portuguese phrase with no Hindi etymology.

Why is there a potato in my vindaloo?

In the colonies, where wine was less easy to come by, vinegar was substituted, and in India local spices were added (the Portuguese dish was not spicy). Due to a linguistic false cognate, the Goan version came to include potatoes.

What does vindaloo consist of?

Typically, vindaloo is made up of vindaloo sauce, which is usually made from caramelized onions, curry paste, coconut milk, vinegar, ginger, chilies, jalapeno, garlic, chickpeas, lentils, and other spices like garam masala, salt, pepper, paprika, and turmeric.