Bengali Shukto Recipe

Prep time Cook time Total time 25 mins 35 mins 1 hour

Shukto is a Traditional Bengali recipe made with different types of vegetables.

Author: Sudipto Chakraborty

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Bengali, Indian Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

2 or 3 Bittergourd/karelas

½ cup chopped cabbage/cauliflower

½ cup chopped beans/or ¼ cup peas

½ cup chopped carrots

½ cup chopped potatoes

½ cup squash or eggplant or bottlegourd

3 tbsp ghee

¼ tsp fenugreek seeds

1-2 bay leaves

1 cup water

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 inch ginger piece

1-2 fresh chillies. I used 1 chilli

½ tsp turmeric

1 tsp panch phoron

2 tsp coriander powder

¼ tsp asafoetida

1 cup plain curd/yoghurt

salt

Instructions

1. Peel the skin of the bitter gourd and cut them into 1 inch cubes

2. Heat 2 tbsp ghee. Fry the fenugreek seeds for 3o seconds.

3. Then add all the chopped vegetables.

4. Add the bay leaves and stir-fry the vegetables for 5 minutes on a medium flame. Turn

them gently.

5. Now pour half of the water, cover the pan and cook the veggies on a medium heat for

10 mins.

6. In a mortar and pestle or in blender, grind together the cumin seeds, ginger, chillies,

turmeric with a few drops of water. Make a smooth masala paste.

7. Heat the remaining 1 tbsp ghee in a pan. Add the masala paste and stir fry for a minute

or two.

8. Then add the panch phoron, coriander powder and asafoetida. Stir for a few seconds.

9. Pour the remaining water into the masala and bring to a boil for 1 minute.

10. Empty the liquid masala into the cooking veggies and continue cooking over medium

heat for 15 to 2o minutes, stiriring every now and then, until the veggies become

tender.

11. Finally, fold in the yoghurt and salt. Stir and toss gently to mix the spices and sauce

evenly with the vegetables. Simmer for a minute uncovered as you do not want the

yoghurt to spilt. 12. Serve Shukto as a main dish with rice or chapati, phulkas, parathas.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 3-4