Bengali cuisine – Batter Up With Sujata

Doi Potol Or Pointed Gourd / Parwal In Yogurt Gravy

Doi potol or pointed guard/parwal in yogurt gravy. A no onion garlic delicious and flavorful parwal curry from Bengali cuisine made with a blend of aromatic spices and yogurt.

Soft whole parwal or pointed gourd in spices infused rich aromatic gravy is best accompany with steamed rice, pulao, jeera rice, roti, paratha, puri or any bread. All the spices, yogurt or curd, poppy seeds, melon seeds and cashew nuts will make your parwal curry rich and mouthwatering. You may like some more parwal or pointed gourd recipes on this blog. Click on the name below for recipe.

1. Stuffed pointed gourd or potol dolma

2. Pointed gourd with poppy seeds and coconut

3. Paneer stuffed parwal mithai

4. Pointed gourd with poppy seeds

Sending this post to Facebook group Healthy Wealthy Cuisine for Satwik Treat theme suggested by Ruchi Shah who blog at Ruchis Veg kitchen. I love her vast collection of recipes. I recently bookmarked her Pinwheel samosa and Pressure cooker khandvi recipe to try. Do visit her space for many more wonderful recipes.

Check out the recipes of my fellow bloggers on this theme.

Bhindi kadhi by Preethi

Creamy pine nuts pasta by Shalu

Coconut rice by Jayashree

Satvik paneer butter masala by Poonam

Moong dal dosa by Ruchi

I have used cashew nuts in the recipe. But you can use almonds if you want. Any unsweetened thick yogurt can be used to make this parwal or pointed gourd curry. I have used homemade curd. To grind poppy seeds easily first dry grind the poppy seeds and then add other ingredients to grind. Or soak the poppy seeds in hot water for 15 minutes or microwave for 1 minutes to make smooth paste.

Recipe

Parwal or pointed gourd – 10 – 12

Ginger – 1/2 inch piece

Green chilli – 2 – 3 or to taste

Curd or yogurt – 4 tablespoon

Poppy seeds or khaskhas – 2 tablespoon

Cashew nuts – 1 tablespoon

Melon seeds – 1 tablespoon

Cumin or jeera powder – 1 teaspoon

Coriander or dhania powder – 1 tablespoon

Kashmiri red chilli powder – 2 teaspoon

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

Green cardamom – 3

Cloves – 3

Cinnamon – 1/2 inch piece

Bay leaf – 1

Salt to taste

Sugar – 1/2 to 1 teaspoon or to taste

Mustard oil – 3 tablespoon

Ghee or clarified butter – 2 teaspoon

Method

1. Wash the pointed gourd or parwal well. Cut off both the ends. Peel in strips. Make slits on both sides. Parwal should be intact.

2. Rinse again and drain the water. Marinate the parwal with 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder and little salt. Keep aside.

3. Soak the melon seeds and cashew nuts in hot water. Grind the poppy seeds to make powder or you can also soak the poppy seeds in hot water or microwave for 1 minute.

4. Now grind ginger, green chilli, soaked cashew nuts and melon seeds with poppy seeds. Add little water to make smooth paste. You can also grind ginger and 1 – 2 green chilli separately.

5. In a bowl mix cumin powder, coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and Kashmiri red chilli powder with 3 tablespoon water.

6. Crush the green cardamom, cloves and cinnamon in a mortar pestle.

7. Heat mustard oil in a pan or wok. Fry the marinated parwal from all the sides till light brown. Remove from oil.

8. In the same oil add bay leaf and crushed green cardamom, cinnamon and cloves.

9. Stir and add mixture of cumin, coriander, turmeric and Kashmiri red chilli powder. Fry the spices on low heat for 2 – 3 minutes or till oil leaves the sides.

10. Now add all the ground mixture and saute for 2 -3 minutes again. Add fried parwal, salt and sugar. Mix well. Saute till parwal coated with spices. Add 1 cup water and cover the pan. I have made thick gravy but you can add more water to make thin gravy. I sometime do so. You can add 2 – 3 slit green chilli if you want.

11. Cover and cook on low medium heat for 5 – 6 minutes or till the parwal becomes soft. But be careful parwal should be intact.

12. Whisk the curd well. Add well beaten curd in the curry. Remember to keep the flame low while adding curd. Mix well. Cook on low heat for 3 – 4 minutes. You can add little more water if required to make thick gravy. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

13. Add ghee or clarified butter and switch off the heat.

14. Serve with steamed rice, pulao, jeera rice, roti, paratha, puri or any bread.

Notes

1. Add green chilli according to your taste.

2. Almond can be used instead of cashews.

3. Ghee or clarified butter is optional. If you don’t like skip it.

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.

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Chhanar Paturi Or Steamed Cottage Cheese/Paneer

Chhanar paturi or steamed cottage cheese. An easy to make paneer or cottage cheese dish from Bengali cuisine. You can make paturi with fish, eggs or any vegetable following this recipe. Just marinate the mashed paneer wrap with banana leaf and steam and your delicious paneer is ready. Serve this no onion garlic side dish steamed paneer or chhanar paturi with hot steamed rice and lemon wedges.

Now you can ask what is paturi. Literally meaning of paturi is wrapped in leaves. And leaves should be edible. You can use banana leaf or pumpkin leaf etc. Paturi can be made with fishes like hilsa or ilish, bhetki etc, eggs or make niramish paturi with chhana or paneer/cottage cheese, cauliflower, broad beans or any other vegetable following this recipe. You can also shallow fry these paturi instead of steaming. After wrapping with banana leaves shallow fry with mustard oil till leaves becomes brown. Earlier shared broad beans paturi in a different way. I have stuffed the broad beans before steaming. Click on the name for recipe. Stuffed steamed broad beans

And if you want the similar taste without steaming or wrapping with leaves check out my Cauliflower paturi

Sending this post to Facebook group Shhhhh Cooking Secretly challenge. 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. Theme of this month is steamed food suggested by Anu Kollon. Do check out her recipe of Kerala style steamed rice for this theme. This month my partner is Priya Vijaykrishnan. Priya gave me poppy seeds and curd and I gave her hing or asafoetida and ginger. And she made delicious Amiri khaman with these ingredients.

This chhanar paturi or steamed cottage cheese/paneer is very easy to make. Just marinate the mashed paneer, wrap with banana leaves and steam in steamer or pressure cooker. I have used my rice cooker to steam. If you don’t have steamer then you can use pressure cooker or pour sufficient water in a pot place a stand on the middle. Arrange paturi on a plate and place on the stand. Cover and steam till done. Or shallow fry the paturi on a pan with mustard oil. You can double the ingredients if require.

Recipe

Paneer or cottage cheese – 1 cup

Mustard powder – 1 tablespoon

Poppy seeds or khaskhas – 2 tablespoon

Green chilli – 3 – 4 or to taste

Coconut – 1/4 cup, grated or finely chopped

Mustard oil – 1 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon

Thick curd or yogurt – 1 tablespoon

Cashew nuts to garnish, optional

Banana leaf – 1

Cotton thread as required

Method

1. Wash the banana leaf from both sides. Wipe with a kitchen towel. Heat a pan and place the banana leaf over it. Heat the leaf from both sides. Leaf shouldn’t be burned. Just heat to make the leaf little soft.

2. Mash the paneer or cottage cheese well to make smooth.

3. Grind the poppy seeds. Add coconut and 1 – 2 green chilli. Use very little water if require to make smooth paste.

4. Mix the paste in mashed paneer. Add salt, mustard oil, curd or yogurt, turmeric powder and mustard powder. Mix well. Mash again to make smooth.

5. Cut the banana leaf into two pieces. I have made two paturi. You can make small sized 4 paturi. Cut the banana leaf accordingly.

6. Grease the banana leaf pieces with mustard oil if you want. I didn’t. Gently shape the paneer mixture into square or rectangular. Place on banana leaf pieces. Place 1 slit green chilli and cashew nuts over it.

7. Wrap the leaf and make like an envelop.Tie with a cotton thread.

8. Boil the water in steamer. Place the envelopes on steamer. Cover and steam for 15 to 20 minutes.

9. Open the envelopes and serve delicious paturi with steamed rice and lemon wedges.

Notes

1. Use green chilli according to your spice tolerance.

2. Instead of steaming you can also shallow fry these paturi in a pan. Fry till the banana leaf becomes brown.

3. Lemon juice can be used instead of curd or yogurt.

4. You can also use 1-2 teaspoon lemon juice in the marination with curd.

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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Bengali Sabur Khichuri Or Sabudana Khichdi With Moong Dal

Sabur khichuri or Bengali style sabudana khichdi with moong dal. A simple yet delicious flavorful no onion garlic fasting recipe. You can make it with potato, cauliflower, carrot or any vegetable of your choice.

This khichuri is not like North Indian sabudana khichdi but a khichdi with sabudana and moong dal or split yellow lentil. On fasting day we usually take one time meal. And it should be vegetarian and without onion garlic and rice. It may be Luchi, Kachodi or Radhabollobhi with Dum aloo or any no onion garlic curry. But this sabudana khichuri is easy and quick to make and better than deep fried foods. I love it simple but sometimes use cubed and fried potato.

I got this recipe from my loving masimaa Utpala Mallick. Usually I spent all my summer vacation with my masimaa, meshomoshai or uncle and my cousins at Ranchi. Masimaa was an excellent cook. I already shared her Orange steamed sandesh. I was a school going girl at that time and never cooked anything. Once she cooked this khichdi on one of her fasting day. I just loved the taste. When she made it in the second time I noticed the method and ingredients. And I made it first time when my maa and masimaa both were not at home. Still remember their surprised face after tasting the khichuri. Both said its too good and perfect. That was a fasting day so I was feeling very happy to see their happy faces. Both my masimaa and mother are left for heavenly abode. But they are always with me in my heart. Learned a lot from maa and her sisters. Do you remember Misti doi recipe? I got it from my sejomashi Gargi Gupta. I will share some more age old recipes soon. Stay tuned.

Its my contribution to 254 #Foodiemonday bloghop theme is Farali Farmaish suggested by Kalyani Sri who blog at Sizzlingtastebuds. Do visit her blog and YouTube channel for different types of healthy and delicious recipes. I have bookmarked her Coriander garlic walnut pesto and Baked broccoli casserole recipe to try.

Yes we can make luchi puri kachodi anything but this sabudana khichdi is a healthy option for one time meal. After the whole day fasting its better to take something quick and simple food in evening. If you like you can add cubed and fried one potato, fried cauliflower florets, carrot or small pieces of fresh coconut. Add the vegetables before adding water. Vegetables will become soft with dal. Add some more water if using vegetables. You can make the khichdi thick or thin consistency as you like. You can use less ghee or make it with oil and add a dollop of ghee at the end. You can also make it in a pressure cooker. I sometimes do so to save time. You can dry roast the dal before rinsing.

Recipe

Moong dal or yellow split lentil – 1/3 cup

Sabudana or tapioca – 1/4 cup

Grated ginger – 1 teaspoon

Green chilli – 2 – 3

Green cardamom – 2

Cinnamon – 1/2 inch piece

Cloves – 2

Bay leaf – 1

Water – 5 cup

Ghee or clarified butter – 1 – 2 tablespoon

Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon

Turmeric powder – 1/2 teaspoon

Salt to taste

Sugar to taste

Fried cashew nuts and raisins to garnish, optional

Method

1. Rinse the moong dal and sabudana separately. Drain the water and keep aside. I don’t like sabudana much so used less than moong dal. You can use equal quantity or more sabudana and less moong dal. Choice is yours. I have made it one serving so used little less than 1/3 cup moong dal and 1 tablespoon less sabudana.

2. Crush the cardamom, cloves and cinnamon in a mortar pestle.

3. Heat ghee in a wok or pan. You can use half oil and half ghee. 1 tablespoon ghee is sufficient but I have used 2 tablespoon to enhance the flavour. If you don’t want to use ghee, you can make it with only oil. But add at least 1 teaspoon ghee at the end.

4. Fry the cashew nuts if using. Fry till golden brown and transfer on a plate. Now fry the raisins. When raisins puffed up immediately remove from ghee.

5. In the same ghee add cumin seeds, bay leaf, crushed cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. When cumin seeds start to splutter add grated ginger and 1 chopped green chilli.

6. Stir and add drained moong dal. Fry the moong dal. See notes for more options.

7. When dal starts to change colour add water, salt, turmeric powder and 1 – 2 slit green chilli. Mix well. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or till dal becomes soft.

8. Now add drained sabudana and sugar. Mix and cook again for 5 minutes or until sabudana becomes transparent.

9. You can add more water if you want your khichdi little thin consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning if required. You can add a dollop of ghee at the end.

10. Garnish with coconut slices, fried cashews and raisins. You can also use chopped cilantro or coriander leaves to garnish. Serve hot with Date raisin jaggery chutney with mango bar, Mango raisin chutney, Instant sweet mango pickle , curd or any no onion garlic vegetable curry.

Notes

1. You can add cubed and fried potatoes, fried cauliflower florets, carrot and small pieces of fresh coconut in the khichdi. Add a little more water if using vegetables.

2. You can also use 1 chopped tomato with grated ginger and green chilli.

3. Add green chilli according to your taste.

4. To make it quickly you can cook it in a pressure cooker if you want. Dry roast the dal before rinsing and add everything when cumin seeds start to splutter.

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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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
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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.
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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.