3 RECIPES TOGETHER- Veg Bengali THALI

Thali is am Indian concept of food. Typically every part of India has a distinctive style of presenting it thali. Today I have put out my vegetable laden thali that my family and I enjoy a lot during these months of great pollution. 

Jhakia seeds that I use in one of my dishes are optional, but a great addition. It doesn't have any strong flavours, but the crunchy seeds from the hills of gharwal are really a delightful addition to the overall texture of the dish. 

Mishti Kumro chechki – 
1. Heat a tbsp of mustard oil to a good smoking point.
2. Temper a red dry chilly, until it turns brown.
3. Add ½ TSP of kalonji /kala jeera/ Nigella seeds
4. Optional but highly recommended – add ½ TSP of jhakia seeds. It gives a beautiful crunchy taste to the dish. Read more on this in the blog post. 
5. Once the flavours of the masala wafts out, put in  500 GM’s of Ripe pumpkin cut in long fine strips.
6. Mix well, and let it cook on low flame, but uncovered. 
7. Do remember to stir it every now and then. 
8. Adjust salt and put in a green chilly to get a beautiful fresh aroma. 
9. Sprinkle on some finely cut fresh coriander and serve hot. 
Kalo jeere diye jhinge alu - 
1. Heat a tbsp of mustard oil to a good smoking point.
2. Temper a red dry chilly, until it turns brown.
3. Add ½ TSP of kalonji /kala jeera/ Nigella seeds
4. Once the aroma releases out, add in some cubed raw Potatoes. Stir and cook for a minute in the hot oil.
5. Add salt and haldi, stir well and cook for a minute longer, covered. 
6. Now add cubed ridge gourd, and stir well. 
7. Cover and cook until the potoes absorb all water released from the gourd, and become soft. 
8. Garnish it with fresh cut corriander leaves and a slit green chilly. 
Radhuni diye daal- 
1. Heat 2 tbsp of mustard oil to a good smoking point.
2. Temper a red dry chilly, until it turns brown.
3. Add ½ TSP of Radhuni /celery seeds.
4. Once the Masala becomes fragrant, and attains a deep dark brown colour, add ½ TSP haldi mixed with a tsp of water and slit green chilly.
5. Stir and add 6 tbsp of boiled fmasoor dal/red split lentils. 
6. Boil the dal in the tempered spices for a couple of minutes before adding in some green chillies slit and corriander leaves For flavour and garnish.
7. Give it a final simmering time of a minute before serving it hot with plait white rice and simple vegetable curries! 
Cheers!