Shukto is the most popular and authentic appetizer in Bengali Thali. It is a light, tasty stew made with a variety of vegetables, especially potatoes, bori, bitter gourd, green banana, drumsticks, raw papaya, eggplant, and beans.

This dish has been associated with ‘traditional’ occasions and festivals and is in high demand in any Bengali restaurant. When it is about a proper Bengali feast, Shukto is served at the beginning along with rice, a piece of lime, and salt. It is like a traditional custom and has been in trend for a long time.

It is generally made with mixed vegetables and is very popular, especially in the summer season, and eating this is believed to be very good for health. Dashes of a few spices are used to uplift the taste of the recipe.

Speaking of the flavor profile, it is a bit spicy, savory, bitter, and extremely delicious. The juices of all the elements form an ideal concoction along with a beautiful texture. Also, the fried bori sums up the texture with its distinctive form.

So let’s see the list of ingredients and the process of making Sukto easily at home.

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Shukto Recipe (Bengali Style)

Madhushree Dutta

Recipe for cooking tasty Shukto in Bengali style. Simple ingredients and instructions to make delicious Bengali appetizer, Shukto at home.

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Bengali, Indian

Servings 4 servings

Equipment

1 Kadhai
1 Induction Cooktop
1 Mixer Grinder

Ingredients

2 tbsp Mustard oil
2 Bay leaf
1 Papaya medium to small
7-8 Beans
4 Drum sticks
1 Potatoes medium
2 Green banana kaanch kola
1 Bringal eggplant
2 Bitter gaurd Uchchey
6-7 Bori dried lentil dumpling
1½ tsp Sorse-posto paste mustard seed-poppy seed paste
½ cup Milk
1 inch Ginger paste
1 tsp Panch phoron
1 pinch Radhuni
Salt to taste
2 Dried red chili
1 tbsp Ghee
½-1 cup Water
½ tsp Sugar

Instructions

Cut the vegetables

First, wash all the vegies well before starting preparation.
Then, peel the potatoes and papaya. Start to chop the veggies into wedges.
Trim the edges of the beans, remove the strands and cut three pieces of each beans.
Chop the bringal and bitter gourd by cutting off the edges.
Also, peel the drumsticks and cut them into almost equal pieces.

Boil the vegetables

Next, boil the papaya, potatoes, beans, and drumsticks.
In a boiling pot, add salt and the veggies. put in sufficient water to cover all the veggies.
Close the lid of the pot and cook the vegetables on low heat for 15 minutes.
Stir the vegetables occasionally to cook them well.
When done, strain the water immediately to stop the veggies from over cooking.
Save the boiled water for later use.

Fry the vegetables

Rest of the vegetables needs to be fried.
Heat mustard oil in a Kadhai/pan.
Fry the dal Boris till they turn golden.
When it is fried, keep it aside.
Similarly, fry the bitter gourd, kaanch kola and brinjal one by one, until all turn golden brown.
Once fried, remove all the veggies from the oil and set it aside.

Add mustard seed and poppy seed paste

Now add bay leaves, dried red chilis, and panch phoran in the same oil and fry them well.
When you can smell the aroma, add in the ginger paste and fry on low flame for one minute.
Then, add mustard paste and poppy seed paste and stir them well.
If your pan is becoming dry, splash in a little bit of water (you can use previously stored water from the boiled vegetables). Stir well until the oil separates.

Cooking vegetables

Add the boiled potatoes, and cook on low heat for 3 minutes.
Add the rest of the boiled vegetables, including the fried green banana and boris.
Next, add salt and sugar accordingly.
Mix everything nicely.
Now, add in the entire the preserved water from the boiled vegetables.
Put in the brinjal and bitter gourd.
Gently mix all the vegetables and keep stirring lightly so that the vegetables do not break.

Add milk

Now, to the already cooking sukto, pour in the milk.
Give everything a light mix.

Prepare Shukto

Let them cook well over low heat until all the vegetables are fully cooked (about 3 to 5 minutes).
To finish, grind Radhuni ( a type of spice) into a powder using a mortar pestle and sprinkle on the Shukto.
Finally, add in the ghee.
Take it out in a big bowl and cover it with a lid for 5 minutes before serving. This is done so that the fragrance of the ghee can get mixed well.
Serve it hot .

Keyword Bengali Recipe, Homemade Recipes, Veg Recipes

Ta-Daa! The flavorsome Shukto is ready. Serve it first with steamed rice and enjoy all its luxurious elements.

Combine the rice with the juices and the veggies and make it into one bite. Put it into the mouth, delving into the richness of the dish.

Make this whenever you are plating a Bengali thali or any time you are craving some. It is simply a moreish appetizer. Prepare it with love, eat it, and share it with all.

Happy Cooking!

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Shukto Recipe Bengali Style | How To Make Shukto At Home