What is Shukto ?
Shukto is a traditional bengali dish prepared with very minimal spices and combined with various kind of vegetables in a poppy seed-mustard gravy. It has a pleasant bitterness , yet , it’s slightly sweet and salty , makes it unique in taste.
Ingredients
- Uchche/ Bitter Gourd – 2
- Eggplants – 1 , small
- Kanchkola or Green Banana – 1 , small
- Potato – 2 , medium
- Bori or lentil dumplings
- Ginger , chopped/grated – 1 tbsp
- Poppy seeds or Posto paste – 2 tbsp
- Mustard Seed paste – 1 tbsp
- Panchphoran or Bengali Five Spices – 1 tsp
- Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
- Mustard Oil for Frying
- Ghee or clarified butter – 1 tbsp
- Milk: 1 cup
- Water: 3-4 cup
- Sugar – 1 tsp
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Wash and cut all the vegetables in 1 to 3 inch pieces .
Heat oil in a pan and fry the bori or lentil dumplings and keep it in a bowl.
Then add some more oil and fry the bitter gourd and eggplant lightly and keep aside.
Lightly fry other vegetables also and keep them aside.
Temper remaining oil with panchphoron. Then add the ginger. Saute for a minute.
Add all the vegetables , poppy seed paste and mustard paste , turmeric Powder, salt , sugar and mix well.
Now add milk and water and bring it to boil. Cook for around 10-12 minutes in low flame or till the veggitables cooked properly.
Add water if required.
Add Ghee , bori or lentil dumplings and cook for around 2 minutes more, then turn off the flame
Shukto is ready to serve with steamed rice.
