BADHAKOPIR GHONTO / CABBAGE POTATO MISHMASH

This is one of those rustic vegetarian dishes that are cooked at Bengali homes. I get drenched with many a memories when it comes to such dishes. How beautifully the ladies of the house cooked them, who never knew or bothered about showcasing their talents. I remember my senior's grandma, a super active lady even in her 80's some 18-20 years back cooked up wonderful vegetarian dishes with minimal ingredients and in a small stove. I am just trying to keep the family / community's tradition alive. Hopefully the future generation will try them besides their '2 minutes dinner menus'. This particular vegetarian preparation with cabbage, tomato, green peas and potato requires a minimum amount of spices. Yet it is extremely flavourful with a garnish of cinnamon, green cardamom, cloves powder and ghee [optional but adds flavour]. We call it Badhakopir Ghonto, which if translated can be called a Cabbage Stir Fry. Let us prepare this easy and simple dish of Badhakopir Ghonto / Cabbage Stir Fry together.

INGREDIENTS :

Cabbage : 1small
Potato : 1big
Tomato : 1medium
Green Pea : 2 tbsp
Green Chilli : 2 [slitted]
Dry Red Chilli : 1[halved]
Cinnamon Powder : 2pinches
Green Cardamom Powder : 2 pinches
Cloves Powder : A pinch
Cumin Seeds : 2pinches
Bayleaf : 1
Sugar : 1tsp
Salt : As required
Ghee[clarified butter] : 1tsp [Optiona]
Oil : 3 tbsp

METHOD :

Shred the cabbage thin, wash well taken in a colander.

Wash and chop the tomato. Peel, wash and cut the potato into 8 pieces. Rub with salt and turmeric.

Heat the oil in a wok. Lightly fry the potato pieces. Take out and keep aside.

Temper with cumin seeds, bayleaf and the halved dry red chilli. Add the cabbage, salt and turmeric powder, stir and cover. Remove the cover and stir every 3-4 minutes.

You will see a lot of water been released. When about 75% of the water has dried up, add the tomato pieces, fried potato pieces, slitted green chillies. Stir and cover cook for 3-4 minutes.

Remove the  cover, add sugar, green peas, cinnamon, green cardamom and cloves powder. Stir and cover cook for 2 minutes. Remove the cover, garnish with ghee [optional]. Switch off the gas stove.

It goes well with both rice / roti.