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Dim bhorta

Mashed eggs with mustard oil

Dim bhorta: Bangladeshi boiled eggs mashed with raw mustard oil, fried onion, green chilli and coriander

Dim bhorta is one of the many bhortas (mashes) on the everyday Bangladeshi table, made in Dhaka and Sylhet homes on busy evenings or when the fridge holds little more than eggs. Hard-boiled eggs are mashed by hand with crisp fried onion, green chilli, coriander and a generous splash of pungent raw mustard oil, then eaten with steaming rice and dal. It is rich, sharp and spicy. The common mistake is soft-boiling the eggs; the yolks must be fully firm to mash properly, and fully set eggs are safest for everyone. Chef's tip: crush the green chilli and salt together with your fingertips before adding the eggs, so the heat spreads evenly through the mash. Use mustard oil sold for cooking; where bottles are labelled for external use only, buy a cold-pressed edible one.
Total time
15 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
2
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Ingredients

Serves2

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Fresh ingredients (4)

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Method

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  1. Step 1: Lower 4 eggs into a pan of boiling water (start from the kettle) and boil for 10 minutes, until the yolks are completely firm.

    10 min
  2. Step 2: Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp mustard oil or vegetable oil in a small pan over a medium heat and fry 1 onion, stirring, until deep golden and crisp at the edges. Tip onto a plate.

    6 min
  3. Step 3: Drain the eggs, cool them under cold running water for a minute and peel.

    1 min
  4. Step 4: In a bowl, crush 2 green chillies with ½ tsp salt using your fingertips. Add the eggs and mash with a fork or your hand into a coarse mash.

  5. Step 5: Add the fried onion, 1 ½ tbsp raw mustard oil and 2 tbsp fresh coriander and mix well. Taste for salt and serve with hot rice and dal.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
260 kcal
Protein
13 g
Carbs
6 g
Fat
21 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does dim bhorta take?
About 15 minutes in total: 3 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Is it very spicy?
It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
What can I use instead of eggs?
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
What can I use instead of onion?
2 shallots per onion.

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