Bengali cuisine – Batter Up With Sujata

Paneer In Mustard gravy/Chhanar Sorshe Jhal

Paneer in mustard gravy or chhanar sorshe jhal. A delicious no onion garlic curry from Bengali cuisine. Mustard, poppy seeds, green chilli and tomato made this curry spicy, flavourful and mouthwatering. I have used homemade paneer or cottage cheese. Get the recipe here.

You need only mustard powder, poppy seed, green chilli and tomato paste, nigella seeds and lightly fried paneer pieces with salt, cilantro or coriander leaves, turmeric, red chilli powder and little curd to make this absolutely delicious curry. You can also add garlic if you like. Grind the garlic with tomato, poppy seeds and green chilli or use garlic paste.

You may like some more savoury paneer or cottage cheese recipes on this blog.

1. Aloo paneer

2. Shahi paneer

3. Hariyali paneer makhani

4. Cottage cheese croquettes

5. Soya paneer lollipop

6. Mint paneer kofta

7. Paneer kala chana kofta curry

8. Paneer capsicum stir fry

9. Methi paneer kofta in palak gravy

10. Italian flavoured paneer bhurji

11. Schezwan paneer

12. Kathal paneer kofta curry

13. Dal corn paneer pakoda

14. Chhanar dalna

15. Gobhi palak paneer

And some recipes from Bengali cuisine.

1. Bengali pulao

2. Sukto

4. Drumsticks potato dry curry

5. Misti doi

6. Rasgulla

7. Sandesh

8. Gur aam

9. Kheer kadam

10. Kheer komola

11. Dim posto

12. Pointed gourd with poppy seeds

13. Potol dolma or stuffed pointed gourd

14. Potol posto with coconut

15. Chapor or lentil patties in mustard gravy

16. Stuffed steamed broad beans

17. Chhanar payesh

18. Date palm jaggery kheer

And some more.

This month in Shhhhh Cooking Secretly Challenge facebook group we are sharing different dishes from Bengali cuisine. According to Wikipedia Bengali cuisine is known for its varied use of flavours, as well as the spread of its confectioneries and desserts. It has the only traditionally developed multi-course tradition from the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent that is analogous in structure to the modern service à la russe style of French cuisine, with food served in courses rather than all at once. I born and raised in Bihar but Bengal is my hometown. And love authentic Bengali food. These dishes remind me of my mother and mother in law. Shhhhh Cooking Secretly a group started by Priya of Priya’s Versatile Recipes, is where every month food bloggers are paired up and give each other 2 secret ingredients to cook with according to the theme chosen. This month my partner is very talented Jayashree Trao who blog at Evergreen Dishes. Do visit her space for many wonderful recipes. Jayashree gave me mustard and nigella seeds or kalonji and I gave her tamarind and Bengal gram and Jayashree made this delicious aloo chaat with these ingredients. And I made this chhanar jhal using kalonji and mustard.

To make this delicious curry we have to make a fine paste of green chilli, poppy seeds and tomato. Its a no onion garlic curry. But you can add few garlic cloves while grinding tomato, poppy seeds and green chilli. Always soak the poppy seeds in hot water for easy grinding. I have used mustard powder, you can use mustard seeds if you don’t have mustard powder. If you are using mustard seeds, grind and make a fine paste.

Recipe

Paneer – 1 & 3/4 cup, cubed

Green chilli – 3 – 4 or to taste

Mustard powder – 2 teaspoon

Poppy seeds or khas khas – 1 tablespoon

Tomato – 1, chopped

Mustard oil – 3 tablespoon

Nigella seed or kalonji – 1/2 teaspoon

Curd – 2 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Cilantro or coriander leaves – 2 – 3 tablespoon, chopped

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon, optional

Method

1. Marinate the paneer or cottage cheese cubes with little salt and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder. I have used homemade paneer. You can also use store bought. To make paneer or cottage cheese at home get the method here.

2. Soak poppy seeds with 3 tablespoon hot water for 15 minutes. You can also boil the poppy seeds for easy grinding. I have microwave for 1 minute.

3. Mix mustard powder with 2 tablespoon water and keep aside.

4. Grind poppy seeds, tomato and 1 – 2 green chilli. You can also add 2 – 3 garlic cloves. Make a smooth paste.

5. Heat mustard oil in a pan. Fry the marinated paneer cubes lightly. Don’t make brown. Remove the paneer cubes from oil.

6. In the same oil add nigella seeds or kalonji. Add tomato, poppy seeds green chilli paste, turmeric powder and Kashmiri red chilli powder. Saute till the mixture dried up.

7. Add lightly fried paneer and salt. Mix well. Add soaked mustard powder,chopped coriander leaves, 2 – 3 slit green chilli and 1 cup water.

8. Stir and when it starts to boil reduce the heat. Add well beaten curd and mix well. Cook on simmer for 10 minutes.

9. Remove from heat. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves and green chilli. Serve with hot steamed rice, roti or paratha.

Notes

1. Add green chilli according to your taste.

2. Nigella seeds or kalonji is optional, you can omit it if you want.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.

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Olive Chutney With Jaggery And Panch Phoran

Olive chutney with jaggery and panch phoran. Dry roasted and powdered panch phoran will give your chutney a wonderful aroma.
I have bottled sliced olives so I used it. You can also use fresh olives to make this chutney. Just boil the olives before using.

I love the jaggery and panch phoran mixed flavour. But you can also use sugar instead of jaggery. It will be equally delicious with sugar.
Panch phoran consists of fenugreek seeds or methi, Nigella seed or kalaunji, cumin seed or jeera, mustard seed or sarso and fennel seed or sounf.
You can get panch phoran in any super market. But if you can’t get it in the market, mix 1/2 or 1 teaspoon each all the seeds and use from it. I always mix the seeds and store in a airtight container for later use. Usually radhuni is used in panch phoran but radhuni is available in Bengal not in North India. So I have used cumin instead of radhuni.

You may like some more chutney recipes on this blog.

1. Tomato oambal or chutney

2. Ginger chutney or allam pachadi

3. Mango sesame chutney

4. Date raisin jaggery chutney with mango bar

5. Waterchestnut or singhara chutney or dip

6. Onion tomato chutney or dip

7. Mango raisin chutney

8. Peanut chutney or dip

9. Gur aam or instant sweet mango pickle

Monday again and this week’s 231 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is Condiments Magic suggested by Renu Agrawal Dongre who blog at Cook With Renu.
Renu has a wonderful blog. You will love her all the mouthwatering recipes. Specially winter special recipes. I will try her Overnight apple cinnamon breakfast rolls soon.

I have tasted fresh olive chutney in Kolkata but that was with sugar. Famous jolpai chutney. Loved it. But we can’t get fresh olives here. I always keep a jar of sliced olives in my refrigerator. No doubt fresh olives taste best. But these bottled sliced olives also taste great. To make chutney we have to boil the fresh olives first. Bottled olives take less time to boil. So make a quick and super yummy chutney with bottled olives. Bottled olives contain salt so add salt carefully after tasting. You need only olives, panch phoran, jaggery, salt and dry roasted and ground panch phoran with raisins, dry red chilli and very little oil to make this chutney. I have used mustard oil, you can use any oil of your choice.

Recipe

Sliced olives – 1/4 cup

Jaggery powder – 2 & 1/2 tablespoon

Raisin – 1 tablespoon

Dry red chilli – 1

Panch phoran – 1/4 teaspoon (mixture of fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, cumin, mustard seeds and fennel seeds)

Dry roasted and powdered panch phoran – 1/4 teaspoon

Salt – 1/4 teaspoon or to taste

Mustard oil – 1 teaspoon

Water – 1/2 cup

Lemon juice to taste, optional

Method

1. To make panch phoran mix 1 teaspoon each nigella, cumin, mustard, fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds. You can use 1 tablespoon each seeds and 1/2 tablespoon fenugreek seeds and store for later use.

2. In a pan dry roast little panch phoran. When the panch phoran starts to change it’s colour and becomes aromatic transfer on a plate. Seeds shouldn’t be burn. Grind roasted panch phoran in grinder or mortar pestle when cool and keep aside.

3. Boil the olives till soft and drain the water.

4. Heat oil in a pan. Add 1/4 teaspoon panch phoran and dry red chilli.

5. When the seeds starts to splutter add olives. Saute for 2 minutes.

6. Add jaggery powder, raisins and water. Cook till chutney becomes thick.

7. Taste and add salt if require. Bottled sliced olives contain salt. See notes for more options.

8. Add dry roasted and powdered panch phoran. Mix and remove from heat. You can add few drops of lemon juice at the end.

9. Pour the chutney in a glass bowl. Serve with any meal.

Notes
1. Chutney is sufficient for 2 – 3 people. You can double the ingredients if you want to make more.
2. You can also add red chilli powder to make the chutney spicy.
3. Same amount of sugar can be used instead of jaggery.
4. Fresh olives can also be used to make this chutney. If you are using fresh olives then boil the olives till tender before making chutney.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
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Chhanar Dalna Or Paneer/Cottage Cheese Balls In Gravy

Chhanar dalna.
Bengali style no onion garlic curry with homemade chhena or cottage cheese balls.
This delicious and aromatic curry can be served as a side dish with pulao, jeera rice, luchi or puri, paratha, roti or any type of bread.
You can use grated store bought paneer but homemade soft chhena or paneer taste best. Get the method of making homemade paneer or cottage cheese here.

You may like some more paneer or cottage cheese recipe on this blog.
1. Dal corn paneer pakoda

2. Kathal paneer kofta curry

3. Schezwan paneer

4. Italian flavoured paneer bhurji

5. Paneer gajar halwa

6. Methi paneer kofta in palak gravy

7. Cottage cheese or paneer capsicum stir fry

8. Paneer kala chana kofta curry

9. Paneer stuffed parwal mithai

10. Mint paneer kofta

11. Aloo paneer

12. Chhena kheer or chhanar paesh

13. Shahi paneer

14. Hariyali paneer butter masala

15. Paneer or cottage cheese croquette

16. Soya paneer lollipop

17. Chhanar jilipi

18. Sandesh

And many more sweet dishes.

This week’s 217 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is khali fridge or empty fridge suggested by very talented blogger Renu Agrawal dongre who blog at Cook with Renu. Visit her space for mouthwatering recipes from different cuisine. I have recently bookmarked her Whole Wheat Spinach Pizza Pinwheel to try.

Renu suggested that use your pantry ingredients like grains, rice , dals etc or what you cook when you run out of vegetables and fruits or you do not have tomato, onion etc. Okay when I don’t have tomato usually I use curd and whenever I don’t have any vegetables in my pantry I use the milk from my refrigerator and make fresh paneer or cottage cheese to make different types of curry or stir fry.
Today sharing Bengali style chhanar dalna or paneer balls in no onion garlic gravy. My mom usually made it on veg days. It can be made for offering or bhog prasad. You can also make it for party side dish.

Recipe

Paneer or cottage cheese – 1 cup heaped, crumbled

Ginger – 1 inch piece, grated

Green chilli – 1 finely chopped

Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon +1/2 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Sugar – 1/2 to 1 teaspoon or to taste

Turmeric powder – 1 teaspoon

Coriander powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Dry red chilli – 3

Green cardamom – 3

Cloves – 3

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

Bay leaf – 2

Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Hing or asafoetida – a pinch

Tomato – 2 medium, peeled and cubed

Curd – 3 tablespooon

Refined flour or maida – 1 tablespoon

Ghee or clarified butter – 1 teaspoon

Garam masala powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Oil – 3 – 4 tablespoon

Green chilli – 2 slit

Water – 2 cup + 4 tablespoon

Method

1. Soak red chilli in 4 tablespoon water for 30 minutes.

2. Mash paneer or cottage cheese well in a plate. I have used homemade fresh paneer. Get the recipe here.

3. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder, 1 finely chopped green chilli, 1/4 teaspoon grated ginger and 1 tablespoon refined flour or maida. Knead well to make smooth.

4. Make equal sized small balls. Press gently with your palm. Make all the balls and keep aside.

5. Grind remaining grated ginger, tomato, green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Skip tomato if you are using curd.Make a smooth paste. You can use crushed green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in tempering but I like my gravy smooth so ground.

6. Blend dry red chilli with it’s water and keep aside. It will give a beautiful colour to the gravy. You can use kashmiri red chilli powder instead but I recommend to use it.

7. Heat oil in a pan. Fry the paneer or cottage cheese balls from both sides. And place on a paper towel.

8. Fry cubed potatoes till golden brown in the same oil and keep aside.
Add cumin seeds, hing or asafoetida and bay leaf in the oil.

9. When the cumin seeds starts to crackle add the ground paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and sugar. Also add well beaten curd if using.When it starts to dried up add blended dry red chilli. Saute till oil leaves the sides.

10. Now add fried potatoes and salt. Saute again for a minutes.
Add 2 cup water and slit green chilli. Cover the pan and cook till potatoes becomes soft.

11. Add fried paneer or cottage cheese balls. Cook uncovered for 2 minutes.

12. Add ghee or clarified butter and garam masala. Mix and remove from heat.

13. Garnish with chopped cilantro or coriander leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice or paratha, puri or any Indian bread.

Notes
1. You can add cashews, almond or melon seeds paste to make the gravy rich I didn’t.
2. Use red and green chilli according to your taste.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using the hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update

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Chilli Rasgulla Or Green Chilli Infused Rasgulla

Green chilli infused or green chilli flavoured rasgulla or chilli rasgulla.
Yes, sweet spongy delicious rasgulla in a new flavour. Slightly hotness of green chilli made these rasgulla more yummy.

Rasgulla is an Indian syrupy dessert popular in the Indian subcontinent and regions with South Asian diaspora. It is made from ball-shaped dumplings of chhena and semolina dough, cooked in light syrup made of sugar.

Source – Wikipedia

Earlier I have made some more different fruity flavoured rasgulla. But this green chilli infused rasgulla is totally different. These slightly hot and sweet rasgulla or jhal misti rosogolla are really heavenly.
You can also make these rasgulla with more green chilli flavoured and with little hotness. See notes for option.

Sending this post to 210 #Foodiemonday blog hop #UltaPulta theme suggested by Kalyani Sri who blog at Sizzling Taste Buds.
Do visit her space for many delicious and authentic recipes. I have already bookmarked some of her recipes to try. I am sure you will love her wonderful blog.

Kalayani suggested to make something sweet with savoury ingredients or something savoury with sweet ingredients.
At first I have planned to make a cake with some savoury ingredients. But I have already made few cakes recently. And one of my friend Vinita is in town this time. I have planned to surprise her with a completely new dessert. She just loved it. She also want to learn about the method. So I have to make it again to show her the method to make this chilli rasgulla. And this time used only chilli and didn’t open the cover in-between. And result is better so updating the recipe. These are more spongy and bigger in size. Here is a picture for you.

You may like some more different flavoured rasgulla recipes on this blog.
1. Komola bhog or orange rasgulla

2. Mango or aam rasgulla

3. Watermelon rasgulla

4. Sugar and jaggery rasgulla with tips and tricks

Heavenly desserts made with rasgulla

1. Baked rasgulla

2. Rasgulla kheer or pudding

3. Egg less rasgulla cupcake

And a savoury dish with rasgulla

Savoury rasgulla korma

Before making this rasgulla please read all the tips and tricks of making rasgulla here.
Follow all the tips to make perfect spongy rasgulla. Just mash the cottage cheese well till smooth and your palm becomes greasy. And always make rasgulla in a large and broad pan.

Recipe

Cow milk – 1 litre

Lemon juice or vinegar – 3-4 tablespoon or as required

Sugar – 1 heaped cup

Water – 5 cup

Green chilli – 1

Green food colour – 2-4 drop

Method

1. Rinse the green chilli. Cut and discard the tips.

2. Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan. Break green chilli into half and add one piece in the milk.

3. When milk starts to rolling boil reduce the heat. Add lemon juice or vinegar.
Add 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir and add 1 tablespoon more or as require to curdle the milk completely.

4. When greenish whey and cottage cheese separates immediately pour into the strainer. If you boil further after curdling your cottage cheese and rasgulla will be hard.

5. Discard the green chilli from the cottage cheese or paneer.

6. Place a cheesecloth on a strained and pour the cottage cheese over it.

7. Wash the paneer under running water or dip the cheesecloth in a bowl filled with cold water. Wash the cottage cheese well to remove the smell of vinegar or lemon.

8. Squeeze the cloth well to drain all the water from cottage cheese.

9. Remove the cottage cheese on a large dry cloth. Wrap well and put a heavyweight on it for 1 – 2 hours.

10. . Take out the cottage cheese or paneer on a large plate.

11. Mash with your fingertips and heel of your palm. Mash till your palm becomes greasy.

12. Make small balls. These will become double. I have made 8 small rasgulla out of this cottage cheese.

13. There shouldn’t be any crack on the balls.
Press the balls between your fingers and palm tightly to make crack free balls.

14. Make round ball using your both palm. Make all the balls. To read all the tips and tricks to make rasgulla click here.

15. In a large and broad pan heat 1 cup sugar and 5 cup water. Add remaining half piece of chilli in the sugar syrup. In the picture below I have added two pieces but removed one later. If you like the syrup with more chilli taste and hotness then you can use two pieces.

16. When sugar dissolved and it starts to rolling boil add the cottage cheese balls one by one. Let it boil on full flame from 2 – 3 minutes.

17. Cover and cook on medium-high heat for 20 minutes.

18. Don’t remove the cover in-between.

19. Now switch off the heat. Keep it covered for 1 – 2 hours or until completely cool down.

20. You can keep these in the refrigerator for 5 – 6 days.
Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

1. If you want your rasgulla little more hot add one full broken green chilli in the sugar syrup.

2. If you want your rasgulla sweeter. Take out some syrup from rasgulla. Add some more sugar and boil for few minutes or till sugar dissolved completely. Add all the rasgulla with syrup in it and cover. When it starts to boil remove from heat. Cool again to serve.

3. Always use full cream cow milk to make rasgulla.

4. For spongy rasgulla mash the cottage cheese well with your fingertips and heel of your palm.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hashtag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts and suggestions in comment.
Please visit my facebook page and hit the like button to get the latest update
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Hazelnut Chocolate Sandesh

Hazelnut chocolate Sandesh or sondesh.
Sandesh with the flavour and taste of hazelnut, chocolate, vanilla and coffee. Stuffed with grated chocolate and dipped in melted chocolate with coffee. Taste is super yummy.

Sandesh is a sweet of Bengal made of chhena/paneer or cottage cheese. Homemade fresh paneer or cottage cheese is best to make sandesh. You can make paneer with vinegar, lemon juice or curd. If you want to make paneer with lemon juice or vinegar for sweet dish then you have to rinse the paneer well under running water to remove the smell of lemon or vinegar. So I always make paneer for sweet dish with curd. And for savoury dishes you can make with lemon juice or vinegar.

For sandesh paneer should be mashed well with sugar to make smooth. Then cooked on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. It shouldn’t be overcooked. If overcooked mixture will become crumbly. You can add any flavour of your choice.

Earlier shared some sandesh recipes with different flavours.

1. Carrot sandesh

2. Sugar free date sandesh

3. Sugar free pineapple sandesh

4. Coconut and date palm jaggery sandesh

5. Chocolate sandesh

6. Coconut pomegranate sandesh

7. Paan sandesh

8. Sandesh

9. Mango steamed sandesh

10. Saffron pistachio sandesh panna cotta

11. Watermelon sandesh

12. Cake sandesh

13. Chocolate coconut sandesh

14. Kesar pista sandesh

15. Mango sandesh

16. Steamed sandesh with date palm jaggery

17. Orange steamed sandesh

18. Chocolate stuffed chocolate sandesh

This time made the sandesh with a completely different flavour. Yes its a fusion recipe. Because Monday again and we bloghop members sharing some Indian dessert with continental ingredients. At first I have decided to skip this week because I am not at home now. So planning to participate again after reaching home. But my daughter said you have hazelnut so why not try hazelnut sandesh. Loved the idea. I have used hazelnut and chocolate in smoothie. And loved the taste so here is a sandesh with hazelnut and chocolate.

205 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is #MithaiMeTwist suggestd by Sasmita Sahoo Samanta who blog at First Timer Cook. Visit her space for different types of authentic and innovative recipes. I always love her Odia dessert recipes . Tried one and bookmarked some to try.

Hazelnut chocolate sandesh is stuffed with grated dark chocolate and dipped in melted chocolate with coffee. Sounds delicious isn’t it 😊
So try this hazelnut, chocolate, vanilla and coffee flavoured sandesh and enjoy the heavenly taste. Picture courtesy my daughter Suchismita.

Recipe

Milk – 3 & 1/2 cup

Curd – 4 – 6 tablespoon

Hazelnut – 1/4 cup

Powdered sugar – 4 tablespoon

Vanilla essence 1/4 teaspoon

Grated dark chocolate – 3 tablespoon, heaped

Instant coffee powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Almond – 4 – 5, dry roasted and slivered

Method

1. Place a cheesecloth on a strainer.

2. Heat milk in a heavy bottom pan. When it starts to rolling boil reduce the heat.

3. Add 4 tablespoon whisked curd and stir. Add 1 – 2 tablespoon curd more or as require to curdle the milk completely. Its depends on the sourness of the curd. I have used fresh curd which is not sour at all so I had to add 6 tablespoon. First add 4 tablespoon, stir and add more if require.

4. You can make the paneer with vinegar or lemon juice but then you have to rinse the paneer well under running water to remove the smell of vinegar or lemon. I always use curd to make paneer for sweet dishes and vinegar and lemon juice for savoury dishes.

5. When greenish whey and cottage cheese separates immediately pour into the strainer.

6. Squeeze the cloth well to drain all the water from cottage cheese. Hang the cheesecloth for 1 – 2 hours to drain out all the water.
Get the detailed method to make paneer or cottage cheese here.

7. Dry roast the hazelnut till fragrant. Don’t make brown. When it starts to change it’s colour remove from heat and place on a plate.

8. When roasted hazelnut cool down grind it into a fine powder.

9. Take out the paneer or cottage cheese on a plate. Mash the paneer with your fingers and heel of your palm to make smooth. You can use your food processor to make the paneer smooth.

10. Add powder sugar and mixed.
Knead the paneer well to make smooth.

11. Heat a nonstick pan or heavy bottom pan. Add powdered sugar mixed smooth paneer and ground roasted hazelnut.

12. Cook on low heat and stir continuously. Add vanilla essence and mix.

13. Don’t increase the heat cook on low flame.
Cook till the paneer leaves the sides and becomes like a dough. Don’t overcook. Mixture may be grainy if overcook.

14. Remove from heat and mash with your palm or back of a spoon when warm.

15. Knead the paneer mixture again to make smooth.

16. Make small balls. I have made 6 balls.

17. Flatten the ball and place 1/4 teaspoon grated chocolate in the middle.

18. Bring together all the edges, close and make a ball again.

19. Press the ball gently with your palm. Don’t make flat just press gently to give shape.

20. Make a small dent in the middle with your finger. Make all the balls or sandesh this way.

21. Keep the sandesh in refrigerator.

22. Melt remaining grated chocolate in double boiler or microwave. Microwave on high power for 30 seconds, stir and microwave again for 30 seconds.

23. Add coffee powder and give a good stir.

24. Dip half of the sandesh in melted chocolate or coat half portion of the sandesh with a spoon.

25. Place some dry roasted and slivered almond in the middle. You can garnish the sandesh with slivered pistachio. I don’t have pistachio so place a green colour sunflower seed to add some colour.

26. Chill the sandesh in refrigerator for 30 minutes or more before serving.
Enjoy the heavenly taste.
Sandesh can be stored in refrigerator for 6 – 7 days.

Note
You can use any nut of your choice instead of hazelnut.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Gur Aam Or Instant Sweet Mango Pickle

Gur aam or instant sweet mango pickle or chutney.
A sweet tangy and spicy mango pickle. You can call it khatta mitha achar. My mother’s recipe and my most favourite pickle. You need only raw mango, equal quantity jaggery, panch phoran or Bengali five spices, chilli powder and little oil. And the taste is really lip-smacking.

This gur aam or instant mango pickle is flavoured with panch phoran or Bengali five spices. Panch phoran consists of fenugreek seeds or methi, Nigella seed or kalaunji, cumin seed or jeera, mustard seed or sarso and fennel seed or sounf.

And its sweetened with cane jaggery. We All know that jaggery has numerous health benefits.
It acts as a detox, as it helps cleanse the liver by flushing out nasty toxins from the body. Jaggery is loaded with antioxidants and minerals like zinc and selenium, which help prevent free-radicals (responsible for early ageing). It helps boost resistance against infections, hence building stronger immunity.
Source

This week’s our 196 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is its pickle time suggested by Aruna Saraschandra who blog at Vasus veg kitchen do visit her space for delicious vegetarian recipes.

When Aruna suggested the theme I don’t have any idea what to share because my family is not pickle fan. So I make pickles very rarely. Suddenly I remember my Maa’s gur aam and the lip-smacking taste. I used to make it every year. Because its my most favourite pickle. Do try and enjoy the finger licking taste.

Recipe

1 cup – 250 ml

Raw mango – 500 gram

Salt – 1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Red chilli powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Powdered or grated jaggery – 2 & 1/4 cup

Panch phoran – 1 teaspoon +1 teaspoon

Mustard oil – 1 tablespoon

Water – 1/4 cup

Method

1. Rinse the mangoes Well.

2. Peel and chop lengthwise. Make lengthwise 4 pieces.

3. Marinate with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder.

4. Spread the mangoes on a large plate. Keep under sunlight for 3 – 4 hours.

5. Dry roast 1 teaspoon panch phoran or Bengali five spices till aromatic. Seeds shouldn’t be burnt. You can get panch phoran in any super market but if you don’t get it then you can make it at home. See notes to make panch phoran.

6. Let the roasted panch phoran cool down and grind in grinder or mortar pestle. Keep it aside.

7. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add 1 teaspoon panch phoran or Bengali five spices and let them splutter.

8. Add mango slices and red chilli powder. Fry for 3 – 4 minutes.

9. Now add water and jaggery powder or grated jaggery. Mix well.

10. Reduce the heat. Cook on simmer for 20 minutes or till the mangoes becomes soft. Keep stirring to avoid sticking to bottom of the pan.

11. Add dry roasted and ground panch phoran and mix well. Remove from heat and let it cool down. Jaggery syrup will be thickened when cool.

12. Store in clean and dry jar for later use. But taste before storing. Yummy isn’t it 😊
Enjoy the spicy tangy and sweet gur aam or instant sweet mango pickle.

Note
For panch phoran or Bengali five spices mix 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1 teaspoon Nigella seeds, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1teaspoon fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds. Mix and use as require.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

Data Posto Or Drumsticks With Poppy Seeds

Data posto or drumsticks with poppy seeds.
Data posto is a very common dish of Bengali household. You can make it with tender and thick both type of drumsticks. If you are using thick drumstick scrap the skin before using. Sometimes we make it with only poppy seeds and green chilli paste and sometime adding mustard powder with or without poppy seeds. All the three dishes taste totally different and delicious.
I have already shared a drumstick or sojne data recipe with mustard and panch phoran or Bengali five spices. Get the recipe here

Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The tiny poppy seed is mentioned in ancient medical texts from many civilizations. It takes 3,300 poppy seeds to make up a gram, and a pound contains between 1 and 2 million seeds. Poppy seeds are widely used in Austrian, Indian, Croatian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Romanian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Turkish and Ukrainian cuisines.
7 Health Benefits Of Poppy Seeds

1. Poppy seeds can improve your digestion.
2. Poppy seeds can assist in antioxidant defense.
3. Poppy seeds can assist in red blood cell formation.
4. Poppy seeds can help improve cognitive functioning.
5. Poppy seeds may boost your bone health.
6. Poppy seeds are perfect for helping manage your blood pressure.
7. Poppy seeds can help your slumber at night.
Source

Today I am sharing two different taste of drumstick with poppy seeds or khas khas. One with only poppy seeds or khas khas and green chilli and other is with mustard powder and poppy seeds. Recipe is similar but adding mustard, you will get totally different taste. You can skip potato if you want, make it with only drumstick. My mother in law used to make it with only thick variety drumsticks.

Recipe is very easy and simple. You need only poppy seeds and green chilli paste with salt and turmeric powder. If you want to make sorshe posto die data or drumsticks with poppy seeds and mustard then add only 1 tablespoon mustard powder with poppy seeds paste.

Recipe

Drumstick – 250 gram

Potatoes – 2 large

Poppy seeds or khas khas – 3 tablespoon

Green chilli – 3 – 4 or to taste

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Mustard oil – 1 & 1/2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon

Water – 1 & 1/2 cup + 1/4 cup

For poppy seeds and mustard drumstick –
Mustard powder – 1 tablespoon

Method

1. Soak poppy seeds or khas khas in 1/4 cup hot water for 30 minutes or microwave for 1 minute.

2. Grind soaked poppy seeds with green chilli with the help of little water.

3. Peel and cut the potatoes lengthwise.

4. Rinse and cut the drumsticks into 2 inch piece. If you are using thick drumstick then scrap the skin lightly.

5. Heat 1& 1/2 tablespoon mustard oil in a pan or wok.

6. Add chopped potatoes and drumsticks. You can add 1/2 teaspoon Nigella seeds or kalonji for tempering. I didn’t. Add Nigella seeds in hot oil before adding potatoes and drumstick if using.

7. Fry for 2 – 3 minutes.
Add salt, turmeric powder and green chilli, poppy seeds paste. Mix well.

8. If you want to make it with poppy seeds and mustard, then soak 1 tablespoon mustard powder in 3 tablespoon water for 10 – 15 minutes. Add with poppy seeds and green chilli paste. But first time try it with only poppy seeds and then try with mustard to enjoy both taste.

9. When dried up add water. Cover and cook till potatoes and drumsticks becomes soft and dried up completely.

10. Add 1 teaspoon mustard oil and mix well. This step is optional but adding mustard oil at the end gives extra zing.
Serve with steamed rice.

Note

Potatoes are optional. You can make it with only drumsticks.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

Fulkopir Paturi Or Cauliflower With Poppy Seeds And Mustard

Fulkopir paturi or cauliflower with poppy seeds and mustard.
If you want quick easy and fingerlicking taste of cauliflower then its perfect for you.
This dry curry goes well with steamed rice.

Sending this post to 193 #Foodiemonday bloghop Bengali food fest theme. This week I have suggested the theme. I would love to see what my blogger friends cook and share from Bengali cuisine.

In my knowledge paturi refers to the method of cooking fish and veggies by marinating with mustard and wrapped up in a banana leaf and steamed or sometimes fried. Pata is Bengali word for leaf. Hence the name paturi.
But in a food group when Mili Roy shared the recipe of Adhora Madhuri, its a completely new dish for me. Quite easy recipe because we don’t need banana leaf to make this paturi. I asked Adhora then how it named paturi? She said that, we also call it paturi. So here is a delicious fulkopir paturi without using any leaf.

Recipe

Cauliflower – 1 medium

Mustard powder – 1 tablespoon

Poppy seeds or khas khas – 2 tablespoon

Green chilli – 3-4 or to taste

Salt to taste

Sugar to taste

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon +1/4 teaspoon

Mustard oil – 3 – 4 tablespoon

Slit green chilli – 2 – 3

Dry red chilli – 1, optional

Nigella seeds or kalonji – 1/2 teaspoon

Method

1. Soak the poppy seeds or khas khas in 4 tablespoon hot water for 30 minutes. Grind with green chilli. Make a smooth paste.

2. Mix mustard powder with 3 tablespoon water and keep aside.

3. Rinse and cut the cauliflower in small florets.

4. Heat oil in a pan or wok. Fry cauliflower florets with little salt and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder. Fry till the cauliflower becomes light brown. Remove from oil.

5. In the same oil add Nigella seeds or kalaunji and dry red chilli if using. You can add little more oil if require.

6. Let the seeds splutter. Now add fried cauliflower, poppy seeds green chilli paste, soaked mustard powder, salt, sugar and turmeric powder. Mix well.

7. Reduce the heat. Cover and cook on simmer till cauliflower becomes soft and dried up.

8. Your fulkopir paturi or cauliflower with poppy seeds and mustard is ready. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves if you like.
Serve hot with steamed rice.

Notes
1. You can add 1 teaspoon mustard oil at the end for extra zing if you like.
2. Use green chilli according to your taste. You can also use red chilli powder if you want but green chilli tastes better.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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Tender Drumstick Potato Dry Curry With Bengali Five Spices / Sojne Data Chochchori

Tender drumstick potato dry curry with Bengali five spices or sojne data chochchori.
A very simple yet delicious Bengali recipe using panch phoran or Bengali five spices which is consists of fenugreek seeds or methi, Nigella seed or kalaunji, cumin seed or jeera, mustard seed or sarso and fennel seed or sounf.

You don’t need much spices to make it. You need only turmeric powder, mustard powder and red chilli powder to make this delicious dry curry with tender drumstick and potatoes.

The drumstick or moringa plant is one of those rare species, where every part is beneficial for health and wellness. While the world celebrates moringa leaves and moringa powder as superfoods, the stalks are equally powerful, and have been used since time immemorial in Indian kitchens to add a dash of health to your diet.
Drumsticks are rich in two vital nutrients that are essential to bone health, keeping osteoporosis and osteoarthritis at bay. Calcium and iron are both minerals that are known to enhance the quality of your bones, so consuming an adequate amount of drumsticks can really help with that.
Source

I have used mustard powder in it. You can use mustard paste if you want. You can skip potatoes if you don’t like potatoes. Make it with only drumsticks and enjoy the delicious flavourful drumstick dry curry. Or you can add eggplant and pumpkin with potatoes in this drumstick curry.

Recipe

Tender drumstick – 200 gram

Potatoes – 3 – 4

Tomato – 1 large, chopped

Panch phoran or Bengali five spices – 1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Mustard powder – 1 tablespoon

Mustard oil – 2 tablespoon

Water – 1 & 1/2 cup + 4 tablespoon

Method

1. Peel and cut the potatoes into lengthwise.

2. Wash the tender drumsticks well. Cut and discard the both ends. Chop the drumsticks into 1 inch pieces.

3. Mix 1 tablespoon mustard powder with 4 tablespoon water. Stir and keep aside.

4. Heat mustard oil in a pan or wok. Add panch phoran.
Panch phoran consists of fenugreek seeds or methi, Nigella seed or kalaunji, cumin seed or jeera, mustard seed or sarso and fennel seed or sounf.

5. Let the seeds splutter. Now add potatoes.

6. Fry the potatoes for 2 minutes or till the potatoes starts to charge it’s colour.

7. Add chopped drumsticks. Saute for 2 minutes more.

8. Add salt, turmeric powder and red chilli powder mix well.

9. Add soaked mustard powder and water and cover the pan. Cook till the potatoes and drumsticks becomes soft and dried up.

10. Remove from heat.
Garnish with coriander leaves.
Serve with steamed rice or Indian flat bread.

Note

You can also add eggplant and pumpkin with potatoes.

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

Carrot Or Gajar Sandesh

Carrot sandesh.
Carrot flavoured sweet with all the goodness of carrot, paneer or cottage cheese and evaporated/dried milk or khoya/mawa.

Sandesh (Bengali: সন্দেশ Shôndesh Hindi: संदेश) is a dessert, originating from the Bengal region in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, created with milk and sugar. Some recipes of Sandesh call for the use of chhena or paneer(which is made by curdling the milk and separating the whey from it) instead of milk itself. Some people in the region of Dhaka call it pranahara (literally, heart ‘stealer’) which is a softer kind of sandesh, made with mawa and the essence of curd.

Source – Wikipedia

One more recipe to celebrate world carrot day. I have already shared delicious Gluten free cornmeal carrot cake.

You can get some more carrot recipe links in the above post.

Carrots are often thought of as the ultimate health food. Generations of parents have told their children: “Eat your carrots, they are good for you,” or “Carrots will help you see in the dark.”
Carrots contain vitamin A, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Evidence suggests that eating more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, can help reduce the risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Carrots are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
To read more about carrot click here.

Here is a delicious sweet Carrot sandesh. Already shared different flavoured sandesh on this blog.

1. Sugar free date sandesh

2. Sugar free pineapple sandesh

3. Coconut sandesh with date palm jaggery or khajur gur

4. Chocolate sandesh

5. Coconut pomegranate sandesh

6. Paan sandesh or betel leaf sandesh

7. Steamed sandesh with date palm jaggery

8. Mango steamed sandesh

9. Watermelon sandesh

10. Cake sandesh

11. Chocolate coconut sandesh

12. Kesar pista sandesh

13. Mango sandesh

14. Sandesh

15. Steamed sandesh

16. Chocolate stuffed chocolate sandesh

Today I have noticed that I didn’t share carrot flavoured sandesh yet. And its Word Carrot Day today. So after carrot cake here is a delicious carrot flavoured sweet carrot sandesh or gajar sandesh or gajorer sondesh.

Very easy to make and delicious. I have paneer or cottage cheese and khoya/mawa or dried milk ready so quickly made it and everyone enjoyed the heavenly taste.
I have used only 1 teaspoon ghee or clarified butter but if you like you can use 1- 2 teaspoon more ghee or unsalted butter.

Recipe

Paneer or cottage cheese – 1 cup crumbled

Khoya/mawa or dried milk – 3/4 cup

Grated carrot – 1 cup

Milk – 1/2 cup

Sugar – 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon

Ghee/clarified butter or unsalted butter – 1 teaspoon

Cardamom powder – 1 teaspoon

Method

1. Grind the grated carrot. Don’t add water. We don’t want smooth paste, just grind to make coarse paste.

2. Blend paneer or cottage cheese, khoya/mawa or dried milk and sugar in your mixer grinder or blender to make smooth. I have used homemade soft paneer. Get the method of making paneer and khoya here.

3. Heat ghee or unsalted butter in a nonstick or heavy bottom pan. I have used only 1 teaspoon but if you want you can use 1 – 2 teaspoon more.

4. Add ground carrot and fry for a minute. Add milk and let it boil.
Reduce the heat and cook on simmer. Keep stirring.

5. When the carrot will be about to dried up add 1 tablespoon sugar. Mix and cook till dried up completely.

6. Add blended paneer, khoya and sugar mixture.

7. Mix and cook on low medium heat. Stir continuously to avoid sticking at the bottom.

8. When the mixture dried up and becomes like a dough, remove from heat.

9. Add cardamom powder and mix well.

10. Transfer the mixture in a plate and let it cool down.

11. Knead the mixture well to make it smooth.

12. Make small balls. I have made 20 balls.

13. Shape the balls with a mould. I have used this mould.

14. But if you don’t have mould then you can spread the mixture in a greased plate. Let it set for 15 – 30 minutes. Cut in your desired shape.

15. Serve in room temperature or keep in refrigerator and serve chilled. You can store it in refrigerator for 6 – 7 days.
Enjoy the heavenly taste.

Note
If you want more carrot flavour add 2 cup grated carrot. Also increase the amount of ghee or unsalted butter.

Check out some more carrot recipes shared by my fellow bloggers

Carrot soup by Naina

Carrot cake by Shobha

Carrot orange granita by Archana

Carrot tagine by Melanie

If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.

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