Cook's Hideout: Charchari (Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry)

April 04, 2016

Charchari (Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry)

BM# 63Journey through the Cuisines
Week 1: Bengali Cuisine
Day 3: C for Charchari (Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry)
I'm going to continue on with my journey through Bengali cuisine for our 'Journey through the cuisines' month long mega blogging marathon. It's Day 3 and we are cooking with the letter C. I chose to make a very simple, everyday Bengali dish called Charchari aka Chorchori aka Chochchori.
Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry
It is an easy to make mixed vegetable dish and from the different recipes I found online, each family has it's own way of making this humble dish. Each version had a slightly different veggie used and some used mustard paste while some didn't. I followed Sandeepa's recipe to make my Charchari, except for the addition of mustard paste which I omitted.
I personally love mixed vegetable curries. Each veggie brings its own flavor and texture to the dish making the dish taste amazing. Any mix of veggies can be used for this curry, but there are some that are almost always used like ridgegourd, pumpkin, potato and eggplant. While others like broad beans, drumsticks, radish etc are stand ins and can be used when available.
Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry
Crumbled Bengali boris or vadis are added on top while serving, but I didn't have any, so skipped them. Serve this dish with rice or roti and Bengali Masoor dal for a filling and hearty meal.

Recipe adapted from Sandeepa's Bongmom Cookbook:

Bengali Charchari

Ingredients:
  • 1 Medium Potato, peeled and diced
  • 6~8 Small Eggplants, chopped
  • 1cup Peeled and diced Pumpkin
  • 1 Small Ridgegourd (beerakaya), peeled and chopped
  • 1cup Broad beans, chopped
  • 2 Drumsticks, chopped (I didn't add this)
  • 3~4 Green Chilies
  • 1tsp Panch Phoron (Bengali spice mix with cumin, fenugreek, mustard, fennel & nigella seeds)
  • ¼tsp Hing or Asafoetida
  • ½tsp Turmeric
  • To Taste Salt
  • 8~10 Small Bengali Vadis (I didn't add these)
  • 1~2tsp Sugar (optional)
  • 1~2tsp Mustard Oil (optional)
Method:
  1. Make sure to chop all the veggies approximately the same size.
  2. Steam or microwave the veggies until fork tender. Keep ready.
  3. Heat 3tbsp oil in a large pan. Add the panch phoron and hing; once the seeds start to splutter, add the green chilies and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Add the steamed veggies, season with salt and sugar (if using) and mix well.
  5. Cook till all of the water from the veggies completely evaporates and the veggies are completely cooked through and dry.
  6. Drizzle mustard seeds, if using, and take it off the heat. Serve with rice or just as is.
  7. Sprinkle with fried vadis on top before serving.
Bengali Mixed Vegetable Curry

23 comments:

  1. Even I like mixed vegetable curries buy no takers at home. This mixed vegetable curry looks very simple but must have been quite flavorful.

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  2. Looks like a hearty side dish for rice...

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  3. OMG From where did you get all these props Pavani. specially that ghee pot God I kept the recipe a side and keep on watching your props.so beautiful. sorry charchari looks so delicious..

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  4. Same pinch Pavani I too made it from Sandeepa's and also used the mustard paste.Your looks very delicious and lovely presentation.

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  5. Wow this seem to be the popular one for today..so nicely plated pavani...

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  6. Lovely choice and so simple to make. Love mixed vegetables for rice as well as roti and this looks really good.

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  7. Lovely medley of veggies. Panch phoron must have rendered an amazing flavour! !

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  8. This sounds similar to panch phoron taarkari from the neighboring north eastern states. Could guess how this simple, home style curry compliments the meal.

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  9. A comforting medley sure there with the flavour from panchporon :))

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  10. wow one more charchari.. you girls are tempting me with your pics and need to get the masala very soon. yummy

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  11. Pavani...i tasted some weird combinations last year in kolkata, of veggies that i wont dream of making together....but they always tasted awesome, this ridge gourd plus brinjal seems to be one like them...

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  12. Simple yet comforting curry with all those colorful veggies,lovely props.

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  13. Simple yet flavorful version of mixed vegetable. Amazing clicks as usual, Pavani :)

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  14. Love this beautiful charchari, wat a beautiful medley of vegetable and love this kind of simple dishes.

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  15. Very interesting combo Pavani, the dish looks colorful and delicious. :)

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  16. Delicious clicks Pavani. I am still drooling over the second pic :)beautiful props and nice set up as well...

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  17. Nicely plated this wonderful curry.

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  18. a great side dish - perfect with rice

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  19. I loved your whole thali.... looks very flavourful

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  20. I guess every place has its own throw it all in kind of dish. Except for the absence of coconut it is kind of like our koottu!

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  21. This sound very delicious. Lovely clicks

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  22. Pavani, the clicks are adorable! The veggies look so nice.

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