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Panch mishali tarkari
পাঁচমিশালি তরকারি (panch mishali tarkari): five seasonal vegetables with panch phoron and green chilli
Panch mishali means 'five mixed', and in Bangladeshi homes from Sylhet to Khulna it is the weekday tarkari made from the odds and ends of the vegetable basket, eaten with rice and a thin dal. Potato, pumpkin, aubergine, green beans and green papaya or bottle gourd are cooked down with panch phoron, turmeric and green chilli until soft and gently sweet. The usual mistake is adding water at the start: the vegetables steam beautifully in their own juice and a splash later is all they need. Chef's tip: finish with a teaspoon of raw mustard oil drizzled on top; its sharp aroma is the Bengali signature.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 tsp panch phoron
- 1 potatolarge, 2 cm cubes
- 7 oz pumpkin2 cm cubes
- 1 eggplantsmall, 2 cm cubes
- 3 ½ oz green beans3 cm pieces
- 7 oz green papaya or bottle gourdpeeled, 2 cm cubes
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 green chilliesslit
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp mustard oil to finish (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat 3 tbsp mustard oil in a wide pan over a medium-high heat until it shimmers. Add 1 tsp panch phoron and 1 dried red chilli and fry for 20 seconds until the seeds pop.
1 minStep 2: Add 1 potato and fry for 4 minutes until it starts to colour.
4 minStep 3: Add 7 oz pumpkin, 1 eggplant, 3 ½ oz green beans and 7 oz green papaya or bottle gourd with ½ tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp red chilli powder and 1 tsp salt. Toss well, cover and cook over a medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring twice.
10 minStep 4: Add 3 green chillies and ½ cup water, cover again and cook for 8 minutes more, until the potato breaks easily and the pumpkin has started to melt into a thick coating.
8 minStep 5: Taste for salt, drizzle over 1 tsp mustard oil to finish and serve with rice and dal.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does panch mishali tarkari take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 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 dried red chilli?
- ½ tsp chilli flakes per chilli.
- What can I use instead of potato?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
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