DOI POTOL

Doi Potol is Parwal / Pointed Gourd cooked in a yogurt based gravy. Our mother used to prepare it on an all vegetarian day or when there were guests at home. Later I had it the same way in my husband's side of the family. I do not know though how authentically Bengali it is. I never saw our grandmother cooking potol / parwal / pointed gourd this way. However, it is a good vegetarian side dish.

Cooking pointed gourd with yogurt may have got included later in the Bengali homes, something different from the regular fair of peyaz-potol chochori or aloo-potoler dalna. I thoroughly enjoy this no onion, no garlic curry with rice. It equally goes well with flat breads.

There is good use of plain yogurt in my kitchen. I feel it enhances the taste and texture of the gravy. I have not used onion or garlic in it like in a majority of Bengali homes, even onion and garlic are considered as non vegetarian in the Hindu Bengali families. This curry is prepared with beaten yogurt and few spices with a tempering of whole garam masalas. Let us do it. The gravy of the Doi Potol is usually kept thick....

INGREDIENTS : 

Potol / Parwal / Pointed Gourd : 8-10
Plain Yogurt : 100gm
Ginger Paste : 1tbsp
Cumin Powder : 1tsp
Coriander Powder : 1/2tsp
Chilli Powder : 1tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1tsp
Salt : As required
Cinnamon : 2 one inch stick
Green Cardamom : 2
Cloves : 2
Bayleaf : 1
Sugar : 1tsp
Oil : 2tbsp

METHOD :

Cut the two ends of the pointed gourds and slightly slit on both the ends. Peel them keeping a little of gap.

Wash them and apply salt and 1/2 tsp turmeric powder. Keep aside for 10 -15 minutes.

Heat the oil in a wok. Fry the pointed gourds until light brown. Keep aside.

Temper the oil with bayleaf, green cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. Add the ginger paste and saute well for 2-3 minutes.

Add the salt, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and the chilli powder. Stir for 1/2 a minute.

Beat the yogurt with sugar. Saute well for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 small cup of water.

Let the gravy boil for 3-4 minutes. Add the fried pointed gourds. Stir and cover cook for another 3-5 minutes.

Serve hot with rice or chapati.