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Jhinge posto
Ridge gourd with poppy seeds
ঝিঙে পোস্ত (jhinge posto): ridge gourd cooked in a poppy-seed and green-chilli paste
Jhinge posto is a summer staple of West Bengal and especially the Bankura and Birbhum districts, where poppy seed (posto) goes into almost every everyday lunch. Ridge gourd is cooked in its own juices with nigella seeds and green chilli, then coated in a creamy paste of ground white poppy seeds, giving a mild, nutty, slightly sweet dish. Serve it with rice and dal, or with a millet roti for a lower-GI plate. It is suitable as part of a balanced diet. About 150 kcal and 9 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is adding water: the gourd releases plenty, and extra water makes the posto runny. Chef's tip: soak the poppy seeds in hot water for 20 minutes before grinding so the paste is smooth, not gritty.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz white poppy seedssoaked in hot water for 20 minutes
- 1 ⅓ lb ridge gourdridges peeled, cut into 2 cm chunks
- 1 ½ tbsp mustard oil
- ½ tsp nigella seeds (kalonji)
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¾ tsp salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Drain 1 ⅜ oz white poppy seeds and grind with 2 of the 2 green chillies and 2–3 tbsp water to a thick, smooth paste.
5 minStep 2: Heat 1 ½ tbsp mustard oil in a karai over a medium heat. Add ½ tsp nigella seeds (kalonji) and the remaining slit 1 green chillies and let them sizzle for 20 seconds.
1 minStep 3: Add 1 ⅓ lb ridge gourd, ¼ tsp ground turmeric and ¾ tsp salt. Cover and cook for 7–8 minutes, stirring once, until the gourd is soft and sitting in its own juice.
8 minStep 4: Stir in the poppy paste and cook uncovered for 3–4 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the gourd and the raw smell of poppy has gone. Serve warm.
4 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does jhinge posto take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
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