By Shreya Sarpal
May 6, 2025
Shukto is a Bengali Dish which is a unique balance of bitter, sweet, and savoury flavours and is often served with steamed rice. It serves as the first course to awaken the taste buds before diving into the rest of the meal.
1 thinly sliced bitter gourd (karela) 1 peeled and diced raw banana 1 peeled and diced potato 1 diced eggplant 1 cup drumsticks 2 tbsp mustard oil 1 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp panch phoron (Bengali five spice) 1 bay leaf 1/2 tsp turmeric powder Salt to taste 1 tsp sugar 2 tbsp milk (optional) 1 tsp poppy seed paste or mustard paste 1/2 cup water
Heat mustard in a pan until it starts to smoke, then add bitter gourd slices until they turn crisp and set them aside.
In the same pan, add mustard seeds, panch phoron, bay leaf and let them splutter.
Add potatoes, raw banana, drumsticks and sauté with turmeric and salt, then mix in the eggplant and fried bitter gourd.
Stir in water and cooked vegetables until they get tender, then add poppy seeds, or mustard paste, sugar, milk and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
Adjust the seasoning and serve with steamed rice.