Bengali Aloo Potol er Dalna Recipe - A Traditional Vegetable Side Dish
The Aloo Potol er Dalna Recipe is a traditional vegetable side dish from bengal. The parwal also known as the potol is a very native vegetable to the bangalis. This is a traditional Bengali Niramish (pure veg) cuisine and is very easy to cook. Dalna in Bengali Cooking is a thick gravy dish unlike a jhol where the gravy is more liquid, this Dalna is more of a thicker gravy.
Ingredients
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8 Pointed gourd (Parval)
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peeled and cut into diced
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3 Potatoes (Aloo)
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peeled and diced
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1 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
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2 Bay leaves (tej patta)
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torn
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1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
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1 inch Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini)
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2 Cloves (Laung)
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2 Cardamom (Elaichi) Pods/Seeds
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1 inch Ginger
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grated
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1 Tomato
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finely chopped
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2 teaspoon Coriander Powder (Dhania)
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1/2 teaspoon Garam masala powder
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1 teaspoon Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
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1 Dry Red Chilli
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1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
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1 teaspoon Sugar
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Salt
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to taste
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Oil
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for cooking
Instructions
Step 1
To begin making the Bengali Aloo Potol er Dalna Recipe, first prep all the ingredients, get them together and keep ready
Step 2
We will cook the dish directly in a pressure cooker
Step 3
In the traditional method, you would cook both the aloo and potol separately and then make the masala and add to it
Step 4
The following method, is a healthy way of cooking the recipe and uses much less oil
Step 5
Heat a teaspoon of oil in the pressure cooker
Step 6
Add the cumin seeds, dry red chilies, the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and saute till the aromas are released
Step 7
Add the chopped tomatoes and saute till the tomatoes soften
Step 8
Once the tomatoes soften, add the turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt the chopped vegetables and stir
Step 9
Add 1-1/2 of water, cover the pressure cooker and allow it to cook until you hear three to four whistles
Step 10
After three to four whistles, turn the heat to low and allow it to simmer for about 2 minutes and turn off the heat
Step 11
Allow the pressure to release naturally
Step 12
once the pressure is released, open the pressure cooker the the Aloo Potol er Dalna should be done
Step 13
If the gravy is too watery, simmer and allow the water to evaporate and let the gravy thicken
Step 14
Once done, check the salt and spices and adjust to suit your taste
Step 15
Turn off the heat and transfer to a serving bowl
Step 16
Serve the Aloo Potol er Dalna as a side dish along with Bengali Chirer Polao Recipe, Phulka and a Bengali Cholar Dal