Recipe: Yummy Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry)

Recipe: Yummy Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry) Delicious, fresh and tasty.
Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry). The magnesium in the banana blossom makes it a 'happy' flower as it is believed to reduce anxiety and alleviate your mood. The 'Mochar Ghonto' is a traditional Bengali preparation, where the banana flowers are cooked along with potato and aromatic spices. Mochar Ghonto is a dry curry recipe and is often served along with steaming hot rice and ghee.
Separate the flowers from the outer leaves.
Banana Blossom is known as 'Mocha' in Bengali.
It is the flower of the banana tree.
You can cook Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry) using 21 ingredients and 10 steps. Here is how you cook that.
Ingredients of Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry)
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You need of medium size banana blossom, cleaned and chopped finely.
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You need of potato, cubed.
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It’s of boiled white / black chana (chickpeas).
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Prepare of grated fresh coconut.
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It’s of mustard oil.
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It’s of bay leaves.
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You need of dry red chilies.
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Prepare of cumin seeds.
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You need of " cinnamon.
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You need of green cardamoms.
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It’s of cloves.
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Prepare of ginger paste.
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It’s of turmeric powder.
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Prepare of red chilli powder.
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You need of roasted cumin powder.
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Prepare of garam masala powder.
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You need of sugar (opt).
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You need of salt.
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Prepare of green chilies, slit.
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You need of atta (whole wheat flour) mixed with 1/4 cup water.
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Prepare of ghee.
Banana flower is an exotic vegetable that is relished in many forms like Banana Blossom Curry also called 'Mochar Ghonto', or in the form of vegetarian cutlets or chops and so on.
You might ace a little difficulty to prepare the 'Mocha' or banana blossom to cook.
It is a time consuming process too.
Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry) Ask me my favorite veggie preparation , and without batting an eyelid, I'll say " Mochar Ghonto " (Banana Flower/ Banana Blossom curry.
Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry) instructions
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First I recommend you to put on disposable gloves as the iron content in these flowers will discolour your nails & fingers. Then peel the layers of the banana blossom & remove the florets. Then from each floret discard a thick stamen from the centre & the outer cover. This is pretty time consuming so just be patient as the end result is really yummy..
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Soak the chopped banana blossom in tamarind water for an hour. Drain and pressure cook in required quantity of water, salt and pinch of turmeric powder for 4-5 whistles. Drain the water, rinse and mash well. Keep aside..
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Dry roast the coconut till golden in colour. Keep aside..
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Heat oil in a pan & temper with cumin seeds, bay leaves, whole dry red chilies, cinnamon, cardamoms and cloves..
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Add the potatoes and stir fry till light brown..
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Add the ginger paste and all the dry spices (except garam masala powder) mixed with some water. Saute till the oil separates..
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Add the boiled banana blossom and green chilies. Saute for 2- minutes. Sprinkle some water and cook, covered on a low flame..
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When almost done, add the boiled chickpeas, sauteed coconut and flour paste. Mix everything well and cook for a further 2 minutes..
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When done, add garam masala powder & ghee. Give it a stir and switch the flame..
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Serve with hot steamed rice or chapatis..
The 'ch' in 'Mocha' is pronounced as 'chair' and not as in 'chorus'), followed very closely by E(n)chor er Dalna.
Bengal's favourite MOCHAR GHONTO, a delicious curry made with banana blossom or flowers, served with some hot rice on the side.
Mochar ghonto or banana blossom stir fry is unanimously the star of any lunch menu, yet it is so elusive.
Mochar ghonto can be prepared in both veg and non-veg ways.
Some like it with shrimps including me, others use simply coconut and desi chickpea or chola (kala chana).