This blog is about banana flower recipe, an authentic
Bengali dish named “MOCHAR GHONTO”.
“GHONTO” in Bengali means a vegan recipe
with different spices like cumin powder, coriander
powder, turmeric powder, red
chili powder etc. The main ingredient of ghonto recipe is either
“Mocha/banana
flower “or “Mulo/radish” or “cabbage”, something like that. The sweetness in
“Ghonto” is preferably more than any other dish of Bengalis. We add deshi ghee
and garam masala
powder in this recipe to enhance the taste.
Before I share the recipe I want to discuss about the
healthy sides of banana flowers.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: MUSA SPP
ORIGIN: Southeast Asia. Indo Burma region is considered as the center of
origin of banana.
COLORS: Color of main bud is red orange to deep purple. Flowers are white
or cream color.
The flower is large which grows from the end of the bunch of
bananas and has dark purple red blossom.
The small flowers would be found
inside part which would turn into the banana. It is included in the
diet as the
vegetables.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF BANANA FLOWERS:
It is helpful in
1)
0 Curing infection.
2)
Overcoming diabetes and anemia
3)
Improves lactation
4)
Reduce the radical activity.
5)
Menstrual
problems and weightless.
6)
Rich source of vitamins and minerals (vitamin-C,
A, E), FIBER and POTASSIUM.
7)
Boost mood (due to presence of high level of
magnesium) and reduce anxiety.
8)
Anti ageing power.
9)
Healthy uterus.
10 Gastrointestinal
healthy
11 Helps
to cure cancer and heart disease.
12 Helps
in neural disorders: The free radicals may cause Alzheimer and Parkinson’s
disease which may be prevented by consuming banana flowers regularly.
13 Regulates blood pressure.
14 Lowers the blood cholesterol and promotes the
functional efficiency of kidneys.
HOW TO SELECT
The fresh and firm banana flower should be purchased. It
should be free from cuts and blemishes,
smooth appearance and bright. The
overlapping of outer leaves should be tight. I am eager to tell you
that I got
the beautiful and fresh banana flower from our backyard garden. So you can
imagine the
freshness of the banana flower.
HOW TO CUT AND CLEAN BANANA FLOWERS:
This is very important part in cooking process of banana flowers.
At the very beginning of my married
life I used to become puzzled to cut and to
ready for cooking banana flowers. It was very difficult job
for me to do the same.
Frankly speaking it made me tired, I feel annoyed. It’s loathsome.
But now it is easier for me. To get full healthy benefits
from banana flowers you have to know how to
cut and clean it properly.
1)
First take some mustard oil on the palm to
prevent them from getting discoloured while you peel off the flower.
2)
Slowly take out each bract and gather tiny
florets.
3)
Continue doing so till you touch the innermost
portion where you will notice a bulb of yellow shade.
Take out stamens and sheathes from each
florets .It is a tough job but it has to be done otherwise it will hamper the
boiling of florets.
4)
Now take
each floret and remove its transparent covering as well as the tiny sized head.
5)
Then cut all the florets into small pieces.
Boil all pieces of florets in pressure cooker.
Add turmeric powder and little salt while boiling it will
reduce iron content
and the taste will be better.
Now I am sharing the typical Bengali banana
flower recipe …”MOCHAR GHONTO”.
MAIN INGREDIENTS:
1)
Banana flower : boiled floret pieces (quantity :
1 medium bowl )
2)
Boiled potatoes: 3 medium sizes potatoes cut
into small square pieces.
SPICES INDEEDED:
1)
Turmeric powder: ½ teaspoon
2)
Cumin powder : 1 ½ tablespoons
3)
Coriander powder :2 Tablespoons
4)
Red chili powder: ½ teaspoon
5)
Garam masala powder: ½ teaspoon
6)
Ginger paste: 1 tablespoon
7)
Deshi ghee: 11/2 tablespoon
8)
Mustard oil: ½ tea cup
9)
Salt accordingly
10) For
sweetness: I use artificial sweetener( 2 tablets),you may use sugar(1 ½ tablespoons)
1)
“Bori”: 5 to 6 in numbers. It is a special
Bengali item which is made from dal. These are
used in “Ghonto”, “Sukto”,””Niramish
jhol” like these Bengali dishes.
FOR TEMPERING:
1)
Whole cumin seed: 1 teaspoon
2)
Bay leaf: 1 piece
3)
Red chili: 1
4)
Cinnamon stick: 1 inch size
PROCESS:
Take boiled florets in a bowl. Smash all florets with hands
and keep aside. Keep boiled potato pieces in
another bowl. Place a karai on gas
oven, switch on gas. Pour mustard oil in required amount. Add
“boris” in hot
oil and fry .Take out “boris” and keep aside. Add whole cumin seeds, bay leaf,
cinnamon
stick and whole red chili in it. After splattering as the oil is being
hot, add boiled potato pieces to fry.
Light frying has to be made, when boiled
potato pieces turn light brown add smashed boil banana
flowers in it. Stir continuously;
now add cumin powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and red
chili powder accordingly.
After mixing all spices add ginger paste and again stir. At this time add salt
.Continuous
stirring is very necessary for perfect cooking .Now oil is separated from the
curry add
sweetener in it. Bengali “GHONTO” recipe is a sweet taste based dish.
So we use more sweet than any
other recipes.
Keep all fried dal “bori” in karai now; add garam masala
powder and deshi ghee. Mix all well. Our
“MOCHAR GHONTO” is ready to serve.
Take “MOCHAR GHONTO “with hot rice.
I am happy for sharing this traditional Bengali dish. I will share "mochar kofta" bengali recipe in my
next blog post.
Thank you.
Labels: banana flower, bengali food recipe, indian food blogger, kolkata food blogger, mocha, MOCHAR GHONTO/ BENGALI RECIPE WITH BANANAFLOWER, traditional bengali dish
