Chingri Mocha'R Ghonto/Prawns Banana Blossom Dry Curry Recipe

step 1

• STEP 1.To prepare the banana flower for cooking, remove the outer bracts and collect the flower clusters.

step 2

• STEP 2.Stop when the bracts are difficult to peel and the flower clusters are tiny.

step 3

• STEP 3.Discard the bracts.

step 4

• STEP 4.To clean the flowers, grease the hands and, pick a floret and remove the calyx (scaly translucent covering) and pistil (thick stalk with sticky bulbous head).

step 5

• STEP 5.Cut the florets into 5 mm pieces. (grease the knife to make it easier to clean off the sticky sap)

step 6

• STEP 6.Chop the centre tender cream coloured cone shaped part of the flower into small evenly size dice.

step 7

• STEP 7.1 add 300 to 350 gms chopped banana flower in a pressure cooker with 10gms salt, ½ tsp turmeric powder and 650 ml water. Pressure cook on medium heat for 1 whistle. Allow the pressure to release naturally.

step 8

• STEP 8.2 open and strain off the water. Allow the cooked banana flower to cool for 30 minutes.

step 9

• STEP 9.3 mash the mocha (flower) lightly, to get a good mix of mashed and crunchy textures.

step 10

• STEP 10.4 sprinkle a pinch of salt and turmeric over the prawns and mix well to marinate.

step 11

• STEP 11.5 in a pan add 25ml mustard oil and saute the prawns for 1 minute on medium heat. Remove from the pan and keep aside.

step 12

• STEP 12.6 to the hot oil add 2 dry red chillies, 1 bay leaf, 1 cardamom, 1 clove, 1 cinnamon stick and ¼ tsp cumin seeds. Saute till aromas of spice come through.

step 13

• STEP 13.7 add 100 gms potatoes cut into 2 cm cubes. Fry for about 4 minutes till golden brown.

step 14

• STEP 14.8 add 20 gms grated coconut. Stir so that the coconut does not burn.

step 15

• STEP 15.9 make a paste of 20 gms ginger paste, ½ tsp turmeric and 2 gms cumin powder, ¼ tsp red chilli powder and 50 ml water. Mix well to the potatoes along with 10 gms salt, 18 gms sugar and 2 slit green chillies . Continue to fry. Add a splash of water if the spices dry out.

step 16

• STEP 16.10 saute for 5 minutes on low heat, until the raw smell of the spices goes away.

step 17

• STEP 17.11 at this stage add the cooked mocha (banana flower) and mix well to combine all the ingredients.

step 18

• STEP 18.12 cover and cook on low heat for 6 minutes. Open and add 2 more slit green chillies.

step 19

• STEP 19.13 cover and continue to cook for a few minutes.

step 20

• STEP 20.14 next add the sauteed prawns and mix together.

step 21

• STEP 21.15 add 8 gms of ghee and ¼ tsp garam masala. Turn off the heat. Mix gently.

step 22

• STEP 22.16 serve with rice and dal