OL ER DALNA (BENGALI STYLE ELEPHANT YAM CURRY)

Food matters culturally because it expresses, reflects and enacts values which are both openly attested to and privately held. People eat everyday with their friends and family; also during holidays and special occassions. Food celebrates, it becomes a maker of memory and a link to identity. Because eating is so central to life, food carries meaning beyond its tastes, textures and smells. My today's recipe is such a special dish which was oftenly made by my Grand Ma. She is no more with us, but the taste, texture and smell of her magical dishes still with me and will remain forever. Her culinary skills primarily motivated me to satisfy everyone's heart by serving luscious good food. 

INGREDIENTS:

500 gm Elephant Yam / Ol
1/2 Cup Thick Yogurt / Curd
2-3 Green Chillies (As per taste)
2 Tomatoes
12-15 Curry Leaves
A Pinch of Asafoetida / Hing
1 tbsp Finely Chopped Cilantro / Coriander Leaves
1 tbsp Ginger Paste
1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Coriander Powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
Juice Of A Lemon
1/4 tsp Shahi Garam Masala
1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Clarified Butter / Ghee
4-5 tbsp Mustard Oil
Salt To Taste

METHOD:

Wash, peel and cut yam into 1/2" cubes.
Boil water in a pan, add salt and 1/2 of lemon juice; cover and boil for 10 minutes. Drain water completely and set yam pieces aside.
Make a paste smooth of tomatoes and green chillies and keep it aside.
Heat mustard oil in a kadai. Add yam pieces in batches and fry till those turn into golden from both sides. Remove from oil and set aside.

In the remaining oil, add cumin seeds, mustard seeds, asafoetida, turmeric powder, coriander powder, tomato paste, salt and curry leaves. Saute till spices leave oil, add red chilli powder and yogurt at this time and keep stirring till spice mixture leaves oil again.
Now add yam pieces, sugar, garam masala and coriander leaves. Allow to cook for another 2 minutes.
If you like to have dry curry of elephant yam, remove curry from the heat now. Otherwise, add 1/2 Cup warm water. Cover and cook on very low heat for 4 minutes. Add clarified butter (ghee) before switch off the heat.

Serve warm with plain rice or hot phulkas, it is always delicious!!

RUI MACHER POLAO (ROHU RICE)

After a long gap, today I come here with a super delicious Bengali delicacy "Macher Polao" (fish in rice), which I made with Rohu, a fish of sweet water. I told earlier also, 'Bengali meal is incomplete without fish'. In this cuisine, you can get variety of fingerlicking good fish dishes. Rohu Rice is delicately cooked with basmati rice, rohu fish and spices, which is ever yummilicious and mouthwatery, just tryout and relish! 

INGREDIENTS:

400 gm Rohu Fish / Rui Mach (cleaned, washed and cut into 4 pieces)

1&1/2 Cup Basmati Rice (washed and soaked in water for 30 minutes)

1 Bay Leaf

1 tsp Ginger Paste

1 tsp Red Chilli Paste (or as desired)

3/4 Cup Thinly Sliced Onion

3 Pods of Garlic (finely chopped)

1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder

1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder

(Dry Roasted & Pounded Spice Mixture of green cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, clove, caraway seeds & white pepper)

4-5 tsp Clarified Butter (ghee)

Salt to taste

Cashewnuts & Raisins As Required

2 tsp Sugar

2&1/2 Cup Warm Water

Oil for Deep Frying

METHOD:

Wash rice and soak it in water for 30 minutes.

Marinate fish with salt and turmeric powder for 15-20 minutes. Deep fry fish pieces and keep those aside.

Heat 2 tsp clarified butter (ghee) in a deep frying pan. Add chopped garlic, saute for 20 seconds, then add sliced onion. Fry till onion turns into golden brown.

Add bay leaf, chilli paste, ginger paste and 1/4 tsp garam masala powder; saute for 2 minutes on medium low heat. Mix fried fish pieces into this spice mixture and fry for another 2-3 minutes, remove from pan and set aside.

Add remaining 2 tsp clarified butter (ghee) in the same pan. Add 1/4 tsp garam masala powder, turmeric powder, cashewnuts, raisins, rice and salt in it. Fry for 2-3 minutes on low heat.

Add warm water in it and give a nice stir. Higher the flame till it starts to boil. Simmer the stove, cover and cook exactly for 15 minutes.

Switch off the heat now. Arrange fried fish pieces, sugar and onion mixture on the top. Cover it for another 10 minutes.

Serve warm with any curry or raita. 

Enjoy this lucious essence of Bengal, "Macher polao" (Rohu Rice)!!!

BENGALI AMSOTTO KHEJURER CHUTNEY (SWEET CHUTNEY MADE WITH MANGO PAPAD-DATES-RAISINS)

Bengali chutney are totally different from the chutneys of other provinces, not only tastewise but also in sticky texture. This is the king of all chutneys in Bengali cuisine. Basically, this is a must have sweet chutney after every bengali meal in occassions. A sweet thick chutney that serves with fried papad.

INGREDIENTS:

250 gm Dates (Khejur)
200 gm Mango Papad (Amsotto)
50 gm Raisins
1/3 Cup Pomegranate Seeds (Optional)
1 tsp Roasted Cumin Seeds (pounded)
1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Water
1 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Salt

METHOD:

De-seed dates. Cut mango papad in 1/2" cubes.
Heat sugar and water in a wok or pan, keep stirring continuously.
When bubbles come on sugar syrup add dates, mango papad, raisins one by one and keep stirring.
Add salt and cook for 2-3 minutes on medium flame.
Now add pomegranate seeds, lemon juice and roasted cumin powder. Give a nice stir and remove from heat now.

Let it cool normally. May garnish with few pomegranate seeds and sprinkle with pinches of roasted cumin powder.
Serve immediately after the main course of lunch or dinner. May pour it in a air-tight container and refrigerate for two weeks.

CHITTAGONG CHICKEN

Here is a Bangladeshi dish, where chicken cooked in thick Chittagong style gravy. This flavourful chicken curry which is not only appealing to the eyes, but also a toothsome dish. Spicy, rich chicken gravy can be paired with vegetable fried rice, rotis, naan, dosa or appam. But I love to pair it with steamed rice only....trust me, its yummilicious.

INGREDIENTS:

500 gm Chicken with bones (cut into medium sized pieces)
2 Medium Onions (finely sliced)
1 Onion (paste)
6 Cashewnuts (soaked in 2 tbsps warm water and made a paste)
1/2 tsp Whole Coriander Seeds
1/3 Cup Mustard Oil
300 ml warm water
Salt to taste

FOR KADAI MASALA:

2 tsp Coriander Seeds
3-4 Dried Whole Red Chillies

FOR MARINATION:

2 tsp Garlic Paste
5 Medium Pods of Garlic
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Mustard Oil
Kadai Masala

METHOD:

HOW TO MAKE KADAI MASALA:

Dry roast red chillies and coriander seeds. Stir it from time to time until smell fragrant. Then let it semi cool and grind it to a coarse powder.

HOW TO MAKE THIS CHICKEN CURRY:

Clean and wash the chicken. Marinate chicken with all the spices mentioned on the above marination list. Cover and keep it in refrigerator for atleast 1 or 2 hours.

Heat oil in a kadai, add sliced onion and fry till it turns into golden brown. Add onion paste and fry for 8-10 minutes on low to medium heat.

Now add marinated chicken and fry on medium heat for 15-20 minutes or tilloil comes out from the sides. Add salt and keep stirring for 2 minutes.

Add warm water, stir well and cook it covered on low heat for 30-40 minutes or the gravy thicken and chicken is tender. Open the lid now, add cashew paste and coriander seeds. Fold well. Cook for another 2 minutes.

Serve hot with steamed rice.

DUM MASOOR

Here I cooked masoor dal in 'Dum' process. 'Dum' means cooking on low heat, letting all the spices and contains bring all their flavours out, also all the ingredients get cooked in the steam built inside. A protein packed, tangy, spicy, easy to make dish, this one's for you.. 

INGREDIENTS:

100 gm Red Lentils (Masoor Dal)
1 Large Onion (Chopped)
1 tbsp Minced Garlic (Lehsun)
1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder (Haldi)
1/2 tbsp Sugar
2 Green Chilies (Finely Chopped)
1 tbsp Raisins (Kismis)
1 Chopped Tomato
1 Bay Leaf
1/4 tsp Garam Masala
2 tbsp Mustard Oil
1 tbsp Clarified Butter (Ghee)
1 tbsp Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
Salt to taste

METHOD:

Wash and soak red lentils in water for 30 minutes. Drain water completely and set it aside.

Heat oil in a kadai. Add bay leaf and saute for few secods. Add garlic and onion in it. Fry till onion changes its colour into golden brown.

Add red lentils in ti. and fry for 3-4 minutes. Now add turmeric powder, sugar, green chilies, raisins, chopped tomato, garam masala powder and salt one by one. Fry till spices leaves oil and tomato turns mushy.

Pour a cup of warm water in it, cover and cook on low heat till lentils are tender, yet not mushy.

Sprinkle clarified butter (ghee) and coriander leaves on the top. Turn off the heat now.

Serve hot with warm phulka or paratha.

NOTE: Those who don't like to eat vegetarian dish, they can add shrimps at the time of frying onion, it makes the whole dish more luscious and tasty.

METE PEYAJKOLI (STIR-FRIED MUTTON LIVER WITH ONION GREENS)

Few weeks before, I seen this recipe in a Bengali Magazine, but made few changes according to my tastebuds. Trust me, it is very delicious with hot phulkas or steamed rice. Just tryout, it will be one of your favourite items.

INGREDIENTS:

250 gm Mutton Liver (goat liver)
500 gm Onion Greens
1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
1 tsp Ginger Paste
2 tsp Garlic Paste
1 tsp Green Chili paste
1/2 tsp Kashmiri Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 Cup Chopped Tomatoes
1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder
1/2 tbsp Lemon Juice
1/2 tsp Butter
3 tbsp Mustard Oil
Salt to taste.

METHOD:

Wash mutton liver, cut into 1/2" pieces. Make those pat dry and set aside.
Wash onion greens nicely and chop into 1" pieces. Keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan or wok. Add chopped onion in it. Fry till onion gets translucent.
Add mutton liver and fry it alongwith onions for 3 minutes. Now add ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric powder, green chili paste, red chili powder, tomato and salt in it. Fold nicely till tomatoes get mushy and leave oil from the side of the pan.
At this time, add green onions and mix well. Lower the heat now, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Open the lid now, add sugar and sprinkle little water on it. Fold well and cook covered for another 10 minutes or till mutton livers are tender. Switch off the heat and sprinkle black pepper powder, butter and lemon juice on the top. 

Serve with roti, paratha or steamed rice, it's yummilicious!

FULKOPI DIYE BHETKI MACH (BARRAMUNDI IN CAULIFLOWER CURRY)

In my childhood days, my mom used to make this fish curry specially on Winter days when fresh cauliflower and bhetki mach were easily available in markets. Still I remember the taste and flavor of this fish curry and I made exactly like my mom’s way. Bhetki is my favorite fish as it is soft and with very less bones. If you like fish then definitely you love to have this light fish curry with loads of tender cauliflower, new potato, juicy tomato and the touch of coriander leaves, which is always flavorsome and luscious with plain boiled rice.

INGREDIENTS:

7-8 pcs Barramundi Fish (bhetki mach)

2 Medium Sized Potatoes, Peeled & Cut Each Potato in 4 Cubes

8-10 Florets of Cauliflower

1 Finely Chopped Onions

2 tsp Ginger Paste

1 tsp Garlic Paste

1 Medium Tomato (chopped)

Whole Garam Masala (1-2 Bay Leaves, 1/4 tsp Caraway Seeds, 3 Cardamoms, 4 Cloves)

2 tsp Turmeric Powder

1 tsp Red Chili Powder

1 tsp Freshly Pounded Cumin Seeds

½ tsp Garam Masala Powder

1 tsp Sugar (optional)

2 tsp Clarified Butter (ghee)

2 tbsp Finely Chopped Cilantro (coriander leaves)

½ Cup Mustard Oil

Salt to taste

METHOD:

Wash fish pieces nicely and make those pat dry. Marinate fish with little salt and 1 tsp turmeric powder. Mix well and set it aside for 15-20 minutes.

In the mean time, add cauliflower florets in boiling water. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Drain the excess water. Wash cauliflower once again in cold water, drain water completely and set it aside.

Heat 4 tbsp mustard oil in a wok or kadai. When it is smoking hot, carefully place 2-3 fish pieces on it. Fry till golden brown on each side, it will take 3 minutes to fry each side. Remove from oil and keep those aside. Continue the process with remaining fish pieces.

Smear potato and cauliflower florets with salt and little turmeric powder. Add potato in the same oil and sauté for 4-5 minutes on medium flame. Once potato done, drain those from the oil and add cauliflower florets in the remaining oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes again drain those florets and keep aside.

Heat remaining oil in the same pan. Add bay leaf and whole garam masala in it. Saute for 30 seconds, till a nice aroma comes out. Mix onion in it, fry till it turns golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste, sauté for 2minutes, mix cumin paste and sauté for another 2 minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes, salt and  red chili powder. Fry till tomato turns mushy and leaves oil from the sides. Add sugar, clarified butter and 1&1/2 cup of warm water. Fold well. Let it boil. Amount of water depends on the amount of gravy you want to be on the dish.

Now add fried potatoes, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add fried fish pieces and cook for 3 minutes more. Add fried cauliflower, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Finally switch off the heat now. Sprinkle coriander leaves and garam masala powder on the top. Cover the lid and leave it for 5 minutes.

Serve warm with steamed rice.

Sending to:  Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event

CHANAR PATURI (PANEER WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAF)

A delicacy of Bengal is 'Paturi'. Generally, oily fish is sliced evenly and then wrapped in banana leaf after the fish has been hit by a basting of a freshly pounded mustard with a hint of green chili, coconut, mustard oil, turmeric and salt; baked or roasted on very slow heat. Today, I made this vegetarian version of paturi, which is made with freshly made paneer or chana. I used banana leaf, you may use pumpkin leaf or bottle gourd leaf too, it is very traditional and toothsome dish which goes well with hot steamed rice. Tryout this fabulous chanar paturi and enjoy!!!

INGREDIENTS:

2 Cups Freshly Made Paneer / Chana (cottage cheese)

½ Cup Freshly Grated Coconut

2 tbsps Mustard Seeds

4 Whole Green Chillies (according to taste)

4-5 Slit Green Chillies

½ tsp Turmeric Powder

2 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp Sugar (for flavor only)

2 tbsp + 2 tsp Mustard Oil

Salt To Taste

10 pieces of Banana Leaves
Cotton thread

METHOD:

First of all, make a smooth paste of mustard seeds by using pestle and mortar. Now add grated coconut and whole green chilies, again grind by using pestle and mortar to make a smooth paste. Now the spice mixture is ready. Set it aside.

Take the pieces of banana leaves and grease each pieces with very little mustard oil. Keep aside.

In a large bowl, combine freshly made paneer / chana with mustard-coconut-green chili paste, turmeric powder, lemon juice, sugar, 2 tbsp mustard oil and salt. Fold nicely, so that everything incorporated very well.

Arrange banana leaves on your kitchen countertop. Take a small portion of paneer/chana mixture (like small lemon sized ball). Pour the mixture onto the middle of the leaf.

Place one slit green chili on the top of the mixture.  Now fold the banana leaf to wrap the contain from all sides, just like a parcel and tie with a piece of thread. Repeat the process for remaining mixture.

Heat a frying pan (preferably non-stick) and coat it with 1 tsp mustard oil. Place the wrapped  paneer or chana  on the heated pan (5-6 pieces at a time). Cover the lid and bake those for 6-8 minutes on medium-low heat.

Take off the lid to turn the wrapped paneer and bake the other side. Cover lid and roast for another 6-7 minutes. Take off each parcel from the heat now.

Discard the thread from the parcel. Now the baked paneer / chana is taken out from the banana leaf. Mouthwatering and fantastic chanar paturi is ready to serve with hot steamed rice.

Sending to: Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event

MACH ER (FISH) KOFTA CURRY

Today I am here with a mouth-water fish dish from Bengali cuisine. Truly speaking, a Bengali meal is incomplete without fish. Fishes are prepared in the very delightful ways in Bengali daily meal or occassion. But those Bengali kids, who brought up in abroad are hard for them to cop up with fish bones. This recipe is the great solution for those kids, who avoid fish scaring of fish bones. Tryout once, you will never forget its taste.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR KOFTAS (I made 18 koftas):

500 gm Medium Sized Pieces of Rohu Fish (you may use Catla, Buffalo Carp, Bhetki or Barramundi or Pomfret)

1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
3 Finely Chopped Green Chilies
2 Slices of Bread
2 tbsp Finely Chopped Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
1/2 tsp Garam Masala Powder (freshly pounded)
Salt to taste
3-4 tbsp Oil to shallow fry koftas

FOR GRAVY:

1/2 Cup Freshly Grated Coconut
2 tbsp Onion Paste
1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
1&1/2 tsp Ginger Paste
1 Bay Leaf
1 tsp Dry Roasted Cumin Seeds (powdered)
1 tbsp Red Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
1&1/2 tsp Coriander Powder
1/4 tsp Powdered Nutmeg & Mace
2 tbsp Finely Chopped Fresh Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
3 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Clarified Butter (ghee)
Salt to taste

METHOD:

TO PREPARE FISH KOFTAS:

Wash fish pieces nicely and make those pat dry. Marinate fish with turmeric powder and salt. Keep aside for 15-20 minutes. Fry fish pieces nicely (both sides) and remove from oil.

Discard bones and skin from the fish.

Take fish, onion, bread, coriander leaves, chilies, garam masala and salt in a bowl. Mash and mix everything well.

Form the fish mixture in small balls, shallow fry them both sides slightly till those turn into golden brown. Keep them aside.

TO PREPARE GRAVY:

Add chopped onion in hot oil, fry till it changes its turns translucent. Add onion paste, ginger paste, chili powder, turmeric powder, grated coconut, coriander powder, nutmeg-mace, bay leaf and salt one by one. Fry the spice mixture for 2-3 minutes.

Add 2 cups or enough warm water to cover the koftas. Bring it to boil. Add the koftas, lower the heat and cook it covered for 2 minutes. Turn the koftas. Sprinkle coriander leaves, clarified butter (ghee) roasted cumin powder. Remove from heat.

Serve hot with steamed rice or pulao or biryani. Have this toothsome dish on your lunch or dinner table and enjoy Bengali delicacy!!!

Sending to: Cook with Comfort ~Blog Anniversary Event, Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event

LABONGO LATIKA - SOUTH VS NORTH CHALLENGE

First of all wishing all my co-blogger friends, readers, visitors A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR, 2014. South vs North challenge completed its one year and running gloriously, which is today known by each and every co blogger friend, is a concept and brain-child of our sweet friend Divya Pramil of You too can cook Indian Food. Truelly a great going event where she divided this Indian Cuisine in two geographical parts: Northern Cuisine and Southern Cuisine. Food-bloggers have been placed in this event on the basis from where they belong to. A member from North team and a member from South team respectively will challenge the opposite team members with an authentic recipe from their respective zone and opposite team have to publish the same on their space with a month. Wish to join in SNC, no further delay, just mail to divya.pramil@gmail.com

Feeling proud to be a challenger in this month. Thanks a ton Divya dear for giving me this opportunity. Welcoming South team dearies and here is my lovely challenge to them............"LABONGO LATIKA". This mithai or sweet is made by Bengali's on very special occasion of Durga Puja or Makar Sankranti.

In Bengali 'Labongo' means CLOVE, simply an aromatic Indian spice, which I love a lot. Today, I am here with a very famous and traditional Bengali sweet "Labongo Latika", sweetened khoya or mawa encased in a crisp pastry and sealed with a clove, frying and soaking in the thicken sugar syrup. In my childhood days I saw my Grand Ma made this fingerlicking good sweet and all of us enjoyed and relished it too much. Hope you will like this yummilicious Bengali sweet.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR OUTER CRUST:

2 Cups All Purpose Flour / Self Raising Flour (maida)
2 tbsp Sugar (preferably powdered)
1/4 tsp Salt
Pinch of Baking Powder
Pinch of Saffron, Soaked In 2 tbsp Warm Water
3 tbsp Clarified Butter (ghee)
Little Warm Water To Knead The Dough
1 Cup Refined Oil for Deep Frying
20 Cloves

FOR FILLING:

200 gm Mawa / Khoya
3-4 tbsp Sugar (according to taste)
1/8 tsp Nutmeg Powder
1/3 Cup Warm Water

FOR SUGAR SYRUP:

1 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Water
1 tsp Rose Essence / Rose Syrup

METHOD:

TO MAKE DOUGH:

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, 2 tbsp sugar, saffron water, clarified butter  and salt. Mix well. Add water little by little. Knead it to make a smooth dough. Cover with a wet cloth and rest for 20 minutes.

Divide the dough into 20 portions, by which make 20 equal flat balls and set those aside.

TO MAKE FILLING:

In a pan, crush mawa or khoya. Add ½ Cup warm water, nutmeg powder, Sugar in it. 

Heat the pan now and keep stirring continuously for about 6-7 minutes or till the mixture thicken. Switched off the flame now. 

Add raisins, mix nicely. Keep it aside and let it cool down a little.

TO MAKE SUGAR SYRUP:

Heat a sauce pan. Add 1 cup sugar and ½ cup water in it. Mix rose essence and let it boil. Two String consistency of syrup is required for this sweet.

HOW TO MAKE LABONGO LATIKA:

In the mean time, flat a ball by sprinkling little flour and make poori approx 4” diameter circle or oval. 

Take a spoonful filling and place at the center of the circle. Fold from two opposite sides. 

Lastly, with your wet fingertips, fold from the remaining opposite ends to make a pocket. Wrap the edges with little water and insert a clove to seal the pocket, so that the pocket won’t open easily.

Heat enough oil in a wok for frying labongo latika on medium low flame. Slowly add 4-5 pockets in it. Fry slowly till both sides turn into golden brown.  

Remove them from the oil and dip in thick sugar syrup for 4-5 minutes. Make sure that both sides of labongo latika are getting drenched in sugar syrup. Remove from syrup and arrange on serving plate. 

Always serve after a couple of hours at room temperature. You may store in an air-tight container and refrigerate for a week. Enjoy this lipsmacking good Bengali sweet!!!

Sending to:  Cook with Comfort ~Blog Anniversary Event, Holiday Recipes ~ 3rd Blog Anniversary Event

Hellow! My dearies from South Team, link your post with gorgeous clicks here...........