Sharodiya Shubecha and Dupor'er Tiffin Khabaar/Lunch Box Recipe Series -8

I am missing the hustle-bustle of Kolkata during this time.If you are in Kolkata ,probably you would be enjoying shopping new clothes, shoes and accessories.Ladies busy shopping , their new tangai/jamdani/Dhakai or simple but elegant tant ‘er saree from Boro bazaar or near their locality.
Last minute phone calls to the tailoring master if they can hurry up stitching the clothes on time and even asking “eyita ki amra nabami din e porte parbo, dada ekto taratari shesh kore dile eyi ta amra at least nabami te porte parbo” meaning , can we wear this at least on nabami or the ninth day.
And pat will be coming up the answer a big “NO”…Disappointed ,they will have to look into their old attire if they can find some good matches for their new clothes or even a nice replacement for that matter.
Some adventurous souls will be even trying out new hairstyles to give them that extra edge over their peers.
I mean lot of spending and purchasing on the eve of this great festival and who could even say it is the recession period going on….But good for those poor little souls like tailoring master,Local shoe shop Owner and the local saree/merchandise shop owner,for they have been waiting for this bright period for a long time now.More you spend ,more the money runs in the market and recession will take back seat soon.Good for economy and even good for you.
I mean from young ones to old ones , all are busy planning their schedules about Pujo Panadal hopping ,keeping in mind the mad rush out to see some of the top Pujo pandals in and around Kolkata. Some even will be planning what they will be eating on ashtami or on nabami.Plenty of options if you have company and dont feel like cooking,just go out ,pandal hop and gorge on street food or even fancy a good restaurant and you will ,I bet throughly enjoy.
Some even going out of station to probably to Goa or any other place, for them this is the best time to go out of Kolkata and avoid this mad rush which they have become quite habitual of seeing this since their childhood.
That made me think about Probashi Bengali , how they will be thinking and spending their time away from such hustle-bustle.If they are lucky , they will gather and start/form a new community ,kind of a panel of eminent and enthusiastic Bengali's and even take on celebrating or rather organising Durga Puja in a short period of time.Some may even promise to organise Kali Pujo after it also.
Being away from home, I will be missing offering my ashatami Pushpanjali and the Bhog'er Khichuri , two most important thing for me during this day and the mystic of sandhi Pujo and the lovely drum beats by Dhakis.Makes me feel home-sick now.

Tommorow ,24 th is shashti (day for bodhon I guess) or sixth day , so we all will be wearing our new clothes ,Mothers like me will be observing shashti ,a fasting ritual for the well being of their children.The menu will be niramish meaning Vegetarian.
You may like to catch up with the details, how we spend out Pujo last year ,then visit here
happy Durga Puja
Puja On Ashtami and Nabami
Puja on shashti and saptami






I have tried to include a vegetarian menu this time for Duporer Khabaar, I must remind that this was saved as draft .Usually Rice is not eaten on Shashti fast. Torkari can be eaten with Porotha but not with Rice.Dont ask me big Y for this , this is what I have seen doing both ,ma and ma-in-law.They even don’t eat with these torkari/curry , a simple aloo(potato) bhaja with Porotha and a bowl of doi/yogurt works fine also.

Keeping in mind the niramish khabaar, The recipe menu , is Sheem Shorshe and Bean Borir Jhaal and a simple dal.
Lunch-Box Recipes
Sheem Shorshe(Hyacinth in mustard paste)
Sheem/Hyacinth 8-10
2tsp of turmeric powder
3-4 tsp of mustard powder
Salt as per taste
Cooking oil 4-5 tbs



Method
Clean cut the sheem from the tip on both sides
Now heat up a kadhai and add cooking oil(it would be great if you use mustard oil)
Now add in the cut sheem and fry it well.
Add in turmeric powder ,red pepper powder and salt ,sprinkle little bit of waterand cover
Let it cook for 5-7 mints till it turn out little soft
Meanwhile make a paste of mustard powder,little water,1 tbs of oil,little bit of salt,red pepper powder and very little turmeric powder just to give the colour.
Add this paste to the cooked sheem , take out in a serving bowl.
Making a paste out of fresh mustard seed
Please use coffee grinder for that ,add in 3-4 tsp of mustard seeds,1 garlic ,few cashews and dry grind it without addinng water,if you feel you may add in water slowly to the grinding mustard paste.
You may use little bit of yoghurt at the end also when you are ready to add the paste to the cooked sheem.This way the mustard paste wont turn bitter.
And of course there is the tradiional way of grinding in sheel/nora, which is absolutey has no comparison in terms of taste and authenticity.
Note – I have tried the recipe with Long Runner Beans also ,which is generally available here.

A simple mong dal and

Bean Begun diye Borir Jhaal(Bean/Potato/Brinjal Borir Jhal)
2 potatoes
About 200 gms of beans
Half a long brinjal/eggplant
1 cup of bori/badi/vadi
Tempering and flavouring
Mustard oil 3-4 tsp and some more to fry the bori (lentil dumpling)
1 tsp of panch phoron
2 bay leaf
1-2 tsp of turmeric powder
1 tsp of red pepper powder
Salt as per taste and lil bit of sugar
Method
Cut and chop all the veggies in equal size
Add oil in a kadhai, fry the bori to a nice brown colour at low stirring them well.Take out an d keep them to add in the gravy later.
Heat up a kadhai/saucepan and ,add oil ,temper it with panch phoron and 2 bay leaf.
Add potatoes,beans and fry them well.
Add in salt,turmeric powder,red pepper powder and lil bit of sugar
Coat the veggies well with them
Now add in 1 cup of warm water to it
Add in chopped brinjal pieces and fried bori to it.
Keep the flame at low, cover and cook till the potatoes are evenly cooked.

Happy Cooking Friends


Sharodiya Shubecha O Priti
Happy Durga Puja
You may like to catch up with Last year post then visit here
happy Durga Puja
Puja On Ashtami and Nabami
Puja on shashti and saptami