Shajne Datar Dalna
A comforting Bengali summer curry of tender drumsticks, sweet pumpkin, and potatoes topped with crispy lentil dumplings.
👩🍳 Process
Heat white oil in a pan and fry the bori (lentil dumplings) on medium-low heat until golden brown. Remove and set aside. ▶ 1:44 medium-low
Add mustard oil to the pan. Fry the potato wedges until they turn golden and are partially cooked, then remove them and set aside. ▶ 2:10 medium
In the same mustard oil, add nigella seeds and dry red chili for tempering and let them splutter. ▶ 3:34
Add the chopped tomato and sauté until slightly softened. ▶ 3:43
Add the diced pumpkin and sauté with the tomatoes for a minute. ▶ 3:55
Add the fried potatoes back into the pan and mix well with the pumpkin. ▶ 4:14
Clear a small space in the center of the pan, add ginger paste and green chili paste, and fry until the raw smell of the spices disappears, then mix them with the vegetables. ▶ 5:12
Add the drumsticks (shajne data) to the pan and gently mix. ▶ 5:43
Add cumin powder, turmeric powder, and whole green chilies, and stir well to coat the vegetables. ▶ 6:35
Add salt and sugar, then stir-fry for another minute. ▶ 7:04
Pour in water for the gravy. Cover the pan and simmer on medium-low heat for 5 minutes. ▶ 7:24 5 min · medium-low
Open the lid and add the fried bori. Cover again and cook for another 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are fully cooked and the bori has absorbed the flavors. ▶ 8:24 6 min · medium-low
Once everything is tender and the gravy is of desired consistency, turn off the heat and transfer to a serving bowl. ▶ 8:45
