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Chal Potol (Parwal / Pointed Gourd with Fragrant Rice)

September 12, 2017 By Maumita Paul Leave a Comment

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Chal PotolPin

I would know the tin even if I were blindfolded.
Battered. Long past its prime. The Parle biscuit label, an adorable child against a sunshine-yellow backdrop, long forgotten.

I stand on my tiptoes this morning, reach out for that very familiar tin on the upper shelf in my pantry and prise open the circular lid with the back of a spoon.
I pick a fistful of gobindobhog grains from the ancient tin, hold it to my nose, close my eyes and take a d-e-e-p breath.
Exactly as Grandma would do when Bhola, the farmers cricket-loving son, would arrive with a deranged confusion of gunny sacks of rice tied to his rickety bicycle.
The perfume of the aromatic small-grained rice sends my olfactory nerves to a sublime ecstasy.
As it always does.
Infallibly.

Well, if there’s an ingredient in my pantry that I am unabashedly biased towards, it has to be gobindobhog rice.
That I absolutely adore this rice is an understatement.

No trip to Kolkata is ever complete without me hoarding supplies of the fragrant rice, enough to last me a good couple of months.
And whenever any friend or family comes visiting, it’s invariably the same plea – ‘If you don’t mind, can you please get me some gobindobhog rice ? ‘
Such that, nowadays, I don’t even need to request.
The scented rice just lands up in my pantry.
Lucky me, I have often mused, to be blessed with such loving friends and family.

So no surprise, when my father-in-law gets home plump parwals this morning (Reached Bangalore this morning, as the local vegetable seller had reminded him with an air of pride), I know it’s time for Grandmas sublime chal potol.

Chal PotolPin

Chal Potol. Fried parwals. A throw of the fragrant gobindobhog rice. The intoxicating perfume of whole spices. The warmth of ginger. And the mellow sweetness of luscious raisins.
This is indeed an assault on the senses !!!

And if you crave for gobindobhog rice as much as I do, do try out my Chaler Dalna and Chal Bandhakopir Ghonto too for sure !!!

Chal Potol (Parwal / Pointed Gourd with Fragrant Rice)Pin

 

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Chal PotolPin

Chal Potol (Parwal / Pointed Gourd with Fragrant Rice)

Chal Potol. Fried parwals. A throw of the fragrant gobindobhog rice. The intoxicating perfume of whole spices. The warmth of ginger. And the mellow sweetness of luscious raisins. This is indeed an assault on the senses !!!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Bengali, Indian

Ingredients
  

  • 8-9 Potol (Parwal / Pointed Gourd) peeled and halved longitudinally
  • 3/4 cup gobindobhog rice washed and drained
  • 2 tbsp raisins
  • 1 tomato pureed
  • 1/2 tbsp ginger paste
  • 2-3 green cardamom
  • 1-2 cloves
  • 1 one inch cinnamon stick
  • 1-2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
  • 3 tbsp cooking oil
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Soak the raisins in water, keep aside.
  • Rub the parwal halves with a little turmeric powder and salt.
  • Heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan, shallow fry the parwals till light brown. Keep aside on a kitchen absorbent towel.
  • Add the remaining oil and 1/2 a tbsp of ghee in a deep bottomed pan, when smoking hot, throw in the crushed cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and bay leaves. Allow the spices to release their aroma.
  • Now add the pureed tomato, sprinkle in the salt and cook till the tomatoes are done and the smell of raw tomatoes is no longer there.
  • Stir in the ginger paste and cumin powder, splash a little water, saute for a minute or two.
  • Now add the soaked rice, sprinkle in the turmeric powder and sugar, saute for 3-4 minutes over a medium flame.
  • Throw in the fried parwals and raisins (drained from the water they were soaking in), add 1.5 cups of warm water, cook over a low flame till the rice is cooked to perfection. Splash a little water if it is getting a bit too dry.
  • Finish with a generous dollop of ghee and a hearty sprinkle of garam masala powder. Allow to rest for 10 odd minutes.
  • Serve hot.
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Filed Under: Bengali Recipes, Chhana, Paneer and Vegetables, Rice and Bread Tagged With: Bengali Food Blog, Bengali Food Photography, Bengali Recipes, Bengali Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen, Bengali Summer Recipes, Chal Potol, Food Photography, Indian Food Photography, Indian Recipes, No Onion No Garlic, Parwal, Potol, Traditional Bengali Recipes, Traditional Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen, Vegetarian

Previous Post: « Kumror Dhokar Dalna (Pumpkin and Lentil Cake Curry)
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Hello!! I am Maumita and welcome to Experiences of a Gastronomad.
My blog on soul food, sweet nostalgia and random musings.

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Maumita Paul
When life gives you nolen gur, you go crazy with p When life gives you nolen gur, you go crazy with pithe puli and payesh. 
And then you make a delectable nolen gurer panacotta ❤️❤️❤️
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Recipe link is there in bio.
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #nolengur #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #photography #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #pannacotta #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Nothing more hearty than phulkopir singara and a c Nothing more hearty than phulkopir singara and a cup of masala  tea as the evenings get a tad bit colder !!! 
Any takers ? ❤️ .
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Recipe link is there in bio. 
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 #desi_diaries #storiesofkolkata #theuncommonbox #bengalifood #india_undiscovered @ig_calcutta @stories.of.kolkata #official_photography_hub #teatime #foodgasm #foodstyling #chai #foodphotography #homemade #ig_calcutta #eatseasonal @india_undiscovered @walkwithindia @tv_stilllife #tasteofkolkata #foodporn #gastronomad_m #foodtalkindia #walkwithindia #kolkatabuzz #indianshutterbugs #foodstylist #canonphotography #calcuttacacophony #onlyinbengal #snack #foodstories #acreativevisual #chai #singara #sundayvibes
Sankranti remains one of the festivals closest to Sankranti remains one of the festivals closest to my heart. 

One of those days when I miss Grandma dearly and yearn to return to childhood and relish all the delectable pithe puli she would make !!! 
Happy Sankranti everyone !!!

On the plate 
Khejur Gurer Patishapta, Doodhpuli, Teler Pitha, Nolen Gurer Payesh and Soru Chakuli.
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
New blog post ❤️ And every year, around Sankr New blog post ❤️

And every year, around Sankranthi, the chitoi pithe moulds make a magical re-appearance from the hidden vaults of the windowless sunlight-starved and perennially musty and damp bhnaarar ghor (pantry), illuminated by a lone naked incandescent bulb, before being dusted, scrubbed, soaked, dried and then used in vehement anger for the Sankranti festivities, only to disappear once the euphoria of the harvest festival subsides.
A use and throw culture has still not invaded our lives and the fact that this rather inexpensive non-descript humble artifact is used on just a couple of occasions around Sankranti every year makes not an iota of difference to the magnanimous love and care it receives.
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To read more and try this recipe of Doodh Chitoi , direct link is there in bio. 
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Its less than a week to Sankranti and my kitchen i Its less than a week to Sankranti and my kitchen is in manic frenzy this morning steaming some stunning Bhapa Pitha. 

I have always preferred freshly ground rice flour to store-bought ones. And my hand-free 1400w hamiltonbeach JMG ensured the rice was ground to fine flour, just as I wanted it, in a blink .
(Also do check the coarse, medium and fine grinding options available which gives us such luxury of choice -  I opted for the fine option for the rice flour)

And  here’s my recipe for the quintessential Bengali Bhapa Pitha / Assamese Keteli Pitha. 
Soak the rice for 2 hours, drain from water. 
Allow the rice to dry over a newspaper or muslin cloth to drain any excess water. 
Use your Hamiltonbeach JMG to blitz the rice to a fine powder.
Transfer the rice flour to a bowl, add a pinch of salt, mix well.
Splash a little water to the rice flour, start mixing with your hand. The texture of the dough should be crumbly and just damp enough. Splash water in small increments, we don’t want a wet batter here.
Sieve the moist flour .
Take a kettle, fill it half with water and bring to a boil.
Wrap the lid of the kettle with a damp muslin cloth.
Spread a layer of the rice flour uniformly over the cloth.
Add 1 tsp of freshly grated coconut on the rice flour, followed by 1 tsp of chopped jaggery And finish it with another layer of rice flour. Press gently, take care to not press it too hard.
Wrap with another piece of moist muslin, put the lid back on over the boiling water.
Steam for 10-12 minutes.
Carefully remove the lid from the kettle. 
Gently remove the outer muslin cloth. Use a sharp knife along the edges of the lid to un-mould the pitha..
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#BigBoxOfLove

#SayToHelloPerfection #ProResultsAtHome #HamiltonBeachIndia #CookLikeAPro #fbciofficial

@hamiltonbeachindia, @fbciofficial @grainandgrowth .
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #glutenfree #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #sankranti
The Doulla Pithe that Grandma (Bamma) creates is s The Doulla Pithe that Grandma (Bamma) creates is sheer magic – Pillowy rice flour parcels with a tiny morsel of patali hidden in the center. Stewed in milk perfumed with even more patali gur.
Have a bite, Grandma coaxes.
And the molten patali bursts out of the shackles of the rice flour cocoon.
The fragrance of patali and the perfume of rice leave my palate enthralled.
I take another bite.
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If you want to try this , temporary recipe link is updated in bio ❤️
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Can I taste one ? I ask as Maa’s experienced han Can I taste one ? I ask as Maa’s experienced hands effortlessly remove the pithe from the oil and immerse them in the jaggery syrup, but even before Maa can warn me, I have snatched one and bitten into the gokul pithe.
My tongue is singed.
And for that odd moment, I am all numb.
Minutes, that feel like days, pass.
And then the taste sinks in, sublime, a mellifluous symphony of grated coconut and jaggery.
This is food heaven !!!
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To try  recipe, temporary recipe link is updated in bio ❤️
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Natorer Luchir Payesh!! A sandwich, if I can use t Natorer Luchir Payesh!!
A sandwich, if I can use the liberty of an analogy, of two luchis with a divine gurer kanchagolla filling in between. Fried to a gorgeous golden. And dipped into a notun gur perfumed payesh just before serving.
You do not want it soggy, Grandma would religiously remind Maa every time, that would ruin the fun of the dish.
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To try  recipe, temporary recipe link is updated in bio ❤️
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
This is the story of Grandma. And her fierce love This is the story of Grandma. And her fierce love for rice. Not just rice, any new harvest. Any fresh produce of the soil. Her soil. As she would proudly assert.
Wasting rice in our growing-up years was never an option. Not even a single grain. This is the labour of love. She would remind Dada and me whenever we fussed about food. This is the culmination of months of back-breaking labour. Respect the grain. Respect the farmer.

Cut to the present. My chire has just arrived. Ordered online and delivered at the doorstep by a logistics company. I am blissfully ignorant of what rice went in to prepare this chire. And the farmer shall remain an unacquainted stranger to me. As would his family who possibly helped as well.
Food has reduced, I ruminate, to being impersonal, hasnt it, the consumer and the producer separated by more degrees than my mind can decipher. The price I guess for the comforts of modern life.
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To read more and  try chirer doodpuli , temporary recipe link is updated in bio ❤️
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals

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