Shukto is probably the most authentic Bengali dish. Bengalis typically begin a sumptuous meal with rice and shukto. It is considered a healthy food; it frees up the taste buds, which is very pleasing. Shukto can also be called a Bengali style vegetable stew or soup.
Ingredients
- Bitter Gourd: 1
- Bean pods: 4-5
- Bori: 10–15
- Potato: 1
- Drumsticks: 2
- White radish: 1
- Randhuni: 1and ½ tsp
- Poppy seeds: 2 tbsp
- Ginger paste: 1 tbsp
- Sugar: as per taste
- Salt: as per taste
- Peas: 100 gm
- Raw or green banana: 1
- Green chilly: 2 cut in fine pieces
- Mustard oil: 4 tbsp
- Milk: 1 cup
- Water: 1/2 cup
Method
- Wash all the veggies and cut them properly.
- Heat mustard oil in a kadahi and fry the boris in medium flame and strain oil.
- Now fry the vegetable pieces separately and keep it aside.
- Temper remaining oil with randhuni. Also add cut chilly pieces.
- Add ginger paste and cook for 1-2 minutes and add poppy seed paste and again cook for around 2 minutes.
- Add salt and sugar as per taste and cook again for 1-2 minutes. Now add a little milk and water to the spice mix and boil it.
- Put all the fried veggies along with raw drumstick into the hot oil and cover the kadahi with a lid.
- Cook for around 8–10 minutes in low flame or till the veggies are properly cooked.
- Check the water level and if required add some more water because shukto should have sufficient gravy.
- Shukto is ready to serve. It is served with plain rice.
