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Chingri Bhorta

April 1, 2020 By Maumita Paul 3 Comments

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Chingri BhortaPin

The first day of the lockdown and we were thoroughly under-prepared.
We knew it was coming, we were rather desperate that it be imposed, however when it did finally arrive, we wished we had a day to stock up essential supplies.

The refrigerator had no vegetables.
The freezer had the last batch of shrimps.
The online mart that was meant to deliver fish that day had already put up a notice profuse with apologies, no delivery till they sorted their delivery models and supply chains.

The first thought that struck me was one of utter despair – what do I cook ?

But necessity, as the old men say, is indeed the mother of invention.
So after that initial biting sting of frustration and nervousness, descended the calm.
And it took just a moment to plan the lunch – Piping hot rice, a masoor dal tempered with panchforon and a chingri bhorta.

Chingri BhortaPin

It was only after I was done with the cooking that my eyes caught the shrimp heads, waiting in a desolate corner of the kitchen counter waiting to be disposed.
But today was not a day to waste anything at all.
So out came the kadai, (despite having completed the cleanup of the kitchen post my cooking !!) went in a measured spoonful of mustard oil and the shrimp heads followed.
By the time the heads came out, they were a sinful gorgeous golden. Crispy and packed with delicious flavour. A sprinkle of salt and they were ready for the table.
And I have no qualms in sharing that I even relished that left-over oil with hot rice. (Try it, its divine !!)

Chingri Bhorta. River shrimps. Sautéd and coarsely mashed. A throw of finely chopped onions. A handful of wicked chillies. A glug of mustard oil. And food heaven for sure !!

And before I forget, do not discard those shrimp heads if you are making a chingri bhorta.
Fried to a sinful golden in some chilli-spiked mustard oil, they are drop dead gorgeous. I do see that cynicism in your eyes, but try it once and you shall be a convert forever.

Chingri BhortaPin

Chingri Bhorta

Chingri Bharta. River shrimps. Sautéd and coarsely mashed. A throw of finely chopped onions. A handful of wicked chillies. A glug of mustard oil. And food heaven for sure !!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 20 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Bengali

Ingredients
  

  • 12-15 medium sized prawns de-shelled, de-veined and heads removed
  • 3 onions
  • 1 tsp ginger finely chopped
  • 7-8 green chilies finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup corinader leaves finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 2.5 tbsp mustard oil
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Roughly chop the prawns into small pieces. Marinate with a little salt and turmeric powder. Keep aside.
  • Heat 1.5 tbsp oil in a pan, add the ginger, half the chopped onions and 3-4 green chilies. Fry till the onions catch a tinge of golden brown.
  • Now throw in the prawns, saute till just cooked. Take care to not overcook the prawns. Remove from flame, allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Keep aside half the cooked prawns in a mixing bowl.
  • Blitz the other half in an electric blender to a coarse paste.
  • To the same mixing bowl, now add the coarsely ground prawns, coriander leaves and the remaining onions and green chilies. Give it all a hearty mix. Mash gently with the back of a ladle.
  • Adjust seasonings. Throw in more green chilies if you like the heat. Finish with a generous drizzle of mustard oil and a squeeze of lemon. Serve with piping hot rice.

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Filed Under: Bengali Recipes, Fish and Seafood, Recipes Tagged With: Bengali Chingri Curry, Bengali Chingri Recipes, Bengali Fish Curry, Bengali Food Blog, Bengali Food Photography, Bengali Food styling, Bengali Recipes, Bengali Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen, Bhorta, Chingri Bharta, Chingri Bhorta, Chingri Curry Photography, Chingri Maach, Chingri Maach Recipes, Chingri Mach, Chingri Mach Recipes, Fish, Golda Chingri Photography, Golda Chingri Recipes, Lockdown Diaries, Non Vegetarian, Prawn, Prawns, Traditional Bengali Recipes, Traditional Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen

Previous Post: « Ganadev Kaku’s Mulo Pur (Stuffed Radish, Bengali Style)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sukanya Sen

    October 16, 2020 at 4:36 pm

    Very nice recipe. Thanks for sharing. Dish has a very unique taste.

    Reply
  2. Pooja Mastrofini

    April 2, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Delicious! Love that this wonderful recipe came from necessity! Some of the best recipes do 🙂

    Reply
    • Maumita Paul

      April 6, 2020 at 6:29 pm

      Absolutely they do!!Thank you Puja 🙂

      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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Maumita Paul
And the affair with gur continues..... Any guesses And the affair with gur continues.....
Any guesses what’s in the making this evening?.
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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 #pithepuli #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
There is always light. If only we are brave enough There is always light. If only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it !!
 @amandascgorman you are a genius!!!
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Submitting this to “Dark and Moody” challenge by @neethuthomasphotography and @twiggstudios . #mymysticlight 

Also submitting this to “Chiaroscuro” challenge by @happytummybyritumbhara and @stemsandforks . #foodphotobiteswithritu 
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 #food52 #tv_foodlovers #hautecuisines #capturethemoment #foodstagram #foodstyling #foodmaking @hautescuisines #indianfoodbloggers #foodpornography #photooftheday #gastronomad_m #theuncommonbox #darkphotography #capturingmoments #acreativevisual #darkandmoody #stilllife_perfection #moodylight #tastingtable #official_photography_hub #indianshutterbugs #styleonmytable #foodphotography #foodart #simpleandstill #wintervibes #lifeandthyme #moodygrams
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

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