Mocha Ghonto or Banana Blossom Curry (Bengali style).....:)

"Mochar Ghonto" is a uniquely Bengali preparation of the banana flower.This is one such classic dish from Bengali cuisine, repertoire of few but loved by many if not all.Rich in nutritional value, Mocha or Banana flower is one of the favourite  dishes of Bengal. Mochar Ghonto has many variations, some like it with shrimps , others use simply coconut and Desi chickpea (Kacha chhola/ chana). I have made a vegetarian version of it, though secretly I love the shrimp version also.

The vegetable is supposed to be rich in Vitamin A and C and has a lot of medicinal values.In US, banana flowers can be purchased from Indian ,Chinese and Mexican grocery stores in Bay Area.Here I share the recipe step by step.Hope you also enjoy with this recipe....:)

Ingredients:-

Mocha or banana flower - 1 medium sized
Copped Potato -1
Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Mustard oil/Sunflower oil - 3-4 tsp
Ghee - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
Bay leaf - 2
Whole dry red chillis - 2
Boiled Chana/chhola-1/4 cup
Ginger pest -1/2 tsp

Method:-

1. At first grease your hands with a little oil cause this vegetable is a little sticky like the raw banana.
   Start be removing the purple petal.
2. Under each petal you will found stigmas . Remove them and keep them in a bowl. 
3. Keep removing petals and stigmas till you reach yellow petals which don't come out as easily as the purple ones. 
4. Now remove the two conical petal like strands from every stigma.
5. Now  chop them small size & drop the blossom is a large bowl of water with little bit turmeric powder.
   
    
6. Boil this chopped flowers in 2 cups of water with little salt for 15/20 minutes....Remove water & keep florets aside .
   
7. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, dry red chillis and bay leaf .
8. After 2 mins mins Mix coriander, cumin powder, red chilli,Ginger pest ,boiled chana,turmeric, salt and sugar & copped potato .
9. cover the pan with a lid...And allow it to cook for 10 mins on a slow flame.... Then add the boiled Mocha or banana flower....Everything mix properly..& add half cup of hot water...cook till all the ingredients are soft & water has dried out.
   
10. Now add the grated coconut & cook for another 2/3 
11. mins ......Finally add the Garam masala .
12. Set it on a bowel & garnish with a spoonful of Ghee/Butter ....Serve it with Plain Rice or hot chapatis.
    
    

Enjoy your banana flower curry /your mochar ghonto ... !!!