Bengali Shukto
Shukto is a quintessential Bengali dish, often served as the first course of a traditional meal. It's a subtly sweet and mildly bitter mixed vegetable stew, celebrated for its palate-cleansing properties. A harmonious blend of various seasonal vegetables, cooked in a light gravy often thickened with poppy seed and mustard paste, and finished with a drizzle of ghee, Shukto is a testament to the nuanced flavors of Bengali cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 medium Bitter gourd (uchche)
- 1 small Raw banana (kanchkola)
- 1 medium Potato
- 1 small Sweet potato
- 2 Drumsticks
- 1 small White radish (mulo)
- 1 small Brinjal (eggplant)
- 1 small Ridge gourd (turai)
- 2 tbsp Poppy seeds (posto)
- 1 tbsp Mustard seeds (shorshe)
- 2 Green chilies
- 1 tbsp Ginger, grated
- 1 cup Milk (full cream)
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- 3 tbsp Mustard oil
- to taste Salt
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 0.5 tsp Panch phoron (Bengali five-spice blend)
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 Dry red chilies
- 1 pinch Asafoetida (hing)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the vegetable pastes: Soak poppy seeds and mustard seeds in warm water for 15-20 minutes. Grind them together with green chilies to a smooth paste. Strain if desired to remove husks.
💡 Tip: Soaking the seeds helps in grinding them to a smoother paste. - 2
Prepare the vegetables: Wash and cut all vegetables into uniform, finger-length pieces. Slice the bitter gourd thinly and optionally salt it to draw out excess bitterness, then rinse.
💡 Tip: Uniform cutting ensures even cooking. - 3
Fry the vegetables: Heat mustard oil in a pan. Lightly fry the vegetables in batches (except brinjal and ridge gourd) until golden brown. Add a pinch of turmeric while frying. Fry the bitter gourd last. Set aside. Lightly fry the brinjal and ridge gourd separately.
💡 Tip: Frying vegetables adds texture and flavor. Don't over-fry. - 4
Temper the spices: In the same pan, heat ghee and mustard oil. Add panch phoron, bay leaf, dry red chili, and asafoetida. Let them splutter. Add grated ginger and sauté for a minute until fragrant.
💡 Tip: Tempering releases the aromas of the whole spices. - 5
Cook the paste: Add the ground poppy seed and mustard paste to the pan. Sauté on low heat for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell disappears.
💡 Tip: Cook the paste well to avoid a raw taste. - 6
Combine and simmer: Add all the fried vegetables to the pan. Stir gently to combine. Add salt and sugar. Pour in about 1 cup of water and bring to a gentle boil. Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
💡 Tip: Shukto should have a gravy consistency, not be too dry. - 7
Finish the dish: Stir in the milk and cook on low heat for another 3-5 minutes, ensuring it doesn't boil vigorously. Do not cover the pan at this stage.
💡 Tip: Adding milk at the end creates a creamy texture. Avoid boiling after adding milk. - 8
Garnish and serve: Drizzle the remaining ghee over the Shukto. Serve hot with plain steamed rice.
💡 Tip: Shukto is traditionally the first course of a Bengali meal.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The balance of bitterness (from bitter gourd) and sweetness (from sugar and milk) is key to a good Shukto.
- ✓If you can't find all the vegetables, use a combination of what's available. The variety is important.
- ✓Some cooks add fried 'bori' (sun-dried lentil dumplings) towards the end for added texture.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Some recipes use 'kol khar' (an alkaline extract from banana peels) instead of or in addition to milk for a unique flavor and texture.
- A pinch of garam masala can be added at the end for extra aroma.