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Chaler Dalna (Curry of Fragrant New Rice and a Medley of Winter Vegetables)

January 20, 2017 By Maumita Paul 2 Comments

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Chaler DalnaPin

Grandma loved her niramish dalna – a delicately flavored tomato curry, perfumed with the earthy cumin and the inseparable holy troika of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves, spiked with ginger and kissed with roasted cumin and coriander powder. Green chillies for heat. Finished with a generous dollop of ghee. No onions. No garlic.

On the piece de resistance for Grandmas dalnas, some were perennial, evergreen heroes – the divine chhanar dalna where the superstar was fresh homemade chhana or the sinful dhokar dalna where fried lentil dumplings pompously took centre-stage.

For most of the other dalnas though, the heroes changed with seasons.
Spring saw the return of potol to our  small dusty market by the grey-green river and the unpretentious yet delectable aloo potoler dalna was back on the menu.
Early summer was marked by oppressive sultry heat, the fierce kalboisakhi, heavenly Himsagar mangoes and tender green jackfruit. So the kanthal dalna made a comeback. (And made a disappearance act just as quick, as the jackfruit ripened under the sweltering sun.)
Late autumn witnessed the first dew drops on the blades of grass, the first veil of mist over the vast expanse of paddy fields that extended to the horizons and the first bloom of cauliflower. My favorite aloo phulkopir dalna returned to the menu.

Time flew. Autumn took a bow and arrived winter. With her bountiful bouquet of fresh produce. Her harvest of aromatic new rice.
Grandma started pottering about in the ancient kitchen, spending increasingly long hours fussing about with her rice, preparing a delectable spread of pithe,  puli and payesh. Rice had emerged, overnight, as the indisputable prized superstar in the kitchen.

And it was one such gorgeous winter morning, mellow sunlight flirting with the columns in the courtyard, that Grandma announced her Chaler Dalna. A winter delicacy from her growing up days in Sylhet, pride stark in her quivering voice, prepared around Makar Sankranti, yet another tribute to the new harvest.
So here’s Grandma’s Chaler Dalna, exotic and aromatic, a delicious curry of fragrant new rice and a medley of gorgeous winter vegetables. Redolent of winter, the harvest and the blessed bounty of Mother Earth.
Enjoy !!!!Save

Save

Chaler DalnaPin

Chaler Dalna (Curry of Fragrant New Rice and a Medley of Winter Vegetables)

Chaler Dalna. A delicious curry of fragrant new rice and a medley of gorgeous winter vegetables. Another delicacy from Grandmas kitchen.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Total Time 50 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Bengali, Indian

Ingredients
  

  • 1 small cauliflower cut into medium sized florets
  • 6-7 baby potatoes peeled
  • 1/2 cup fresh green peas
  • 1/2 cup gobindobhog rice washed, drained and dried
  • 2 tomatoes finely chopped
  • 4-5 green chilies slit
  • 2 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 2 tsp whole cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp coriander sedds
  • 1/4 tsp hing or asafoetida
  • 2 green cardamom
  • 1 one inch cinnamon stick
  • 2 cloves
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Dry roast 2 tsp each of cumin and coriander seeds, grind to a fine powder. Keep aside.
  • Heat 2 tbsp oil in frying pan, fry the cauliflower florets and baby potatoes till light brown. Keep aside on a kitchen absorbent towel.
  • Fry the rice in the same oil till the grains turn to a light golden brown, keep aside.
  • Add the remaining oil and 1/2 tbsp ghee to the pan, when smoking hot, throw in hing, crushed cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaves. Allow to splutter.
  • Take a small bowl, dissolve the turmeric powder, roasted cumin-coriander powder and red chili powder in a little water to form a paste. Add the masala paste to the pan, cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes, sprinkle in the salt and cook till the tomatoes are cooked and the smell of raw tomatoes is no longer there.
  • Add the potatoes and green peas, cook for 5-7 minutes. Add the fried rice. Add salt and sugar along with 1.5 cup of warm water, cook over a medium flame till the rice is 75% cooked.
  • Add fried cauliflower florets and continue to cook till the vegetables are tender and the rice is cooked to perfection. You would not want the rice to be mushy and overcooked.
  • This dalna shall have a thick consistency, if it's too thick, feel free to add some more warm water. Adjust the seasonings.
  • Finish with a sprinkle of garam masala powder and a dollop of ghee.

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Filed Under: Bengali Recipes, Chhana, Paneer and Vegetables Tagged With: Bengali Food Blog, Bengali Food Photography, Bengali Recipes, Bengali Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen, Bengali Winter Recipes, Cauliflower, Chaler Dalna, Dalna, Food Photography, Indian Food Photography, Indian Recipes, Phulkopi, Potato, Traditional Bengali Recipes, Traditional Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen, Vegetarian

Previous Post: « Fish Stew, Bengali Style
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Maumita Paul

    January 22, 2017 at 8:20 am

    Thanks @Tia. Do try it and let me know if you like it 🙂

    Reply
  2. Tia

    January 21, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Wow . Thank you for sharing this recipe. Never heard of Chaler Dalna” !!!

    Reply

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Recipe Rating




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Hello!! I am Maumita and welcome to Experiences of a Gastronomad.
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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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 #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
Of late, Grandma would occasionally give in to sna Of late, Grandma would occasionally give in to snatches of emotional upheavals. Reminiscing more and more of her home in sylvan Sylhet.
Chachi was our neighbour. Born in Bikrampur near Dhaka. Married to a trader family in Sylhet. She brought with her to Sylhet the delectable Bibikhana Pitha from her home town. And every year she would lovingly welcome winter, the new harvest, the fragrant rice and the notun gur with her Bibikhana Pitha.
So here it is, the incredibly delicious Bibikhana Pitha. From Bikrampur in Bangladesh. 
Bliss !!! 
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If you want to try this 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 #foodie #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #glutenfree #creatingmemories

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