Ah, Shukto — a classic Bengali dish! 🥘🌿 It’s a mildly bitter, creamy vegetable curry traditionally served in West Bengal, India, often as part of a traditional meal. The bitterness from ingredients like bitter gourd (karela) is balanced with a slightly sweet, nutty, and mustard-flavored sauce.
Here’s a traditional recipe:
Shukto (Bitter Vegetable Curry)
Serves 4–6
Ingredients
- 1 small bitter gourd (karela), sliced thinly
- 1 cup drumsticks (moringa pods), cut into 3-inch pieces
- 1 medium eggplant, diced
- 1 small potato, diced
- ½ cup raw banana, diced
- 1 cup cauliflower florets
- 2 tbsp mustard seeds
- 2 tbsp poppy seeds
- 2–3 green chilies, slit
- 2 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp turmeric powder
- 1–2 tsp sugar
- Salt to taste
- 2–3 tbsp mustard oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2 cups water or milk (for the gravy)
- Optional: ¼ cup cream or milk for richness
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the mustard-poppy paste
- Soak poppy seeds in warm water 15 minutes.
- Grind soaked poppy seeds with mustard seeds and a little water into a smooth paste.
2️⃣ Fry the vegetables
- Heat mustard oil in a pan until hot (or regular oil if using).
- Fry the bitter gourd slices lightly — remove and set aside.
- Lightly sauté other vegetables (drumsticks, eggplant, potato, raw banana, cauliflower) for 3–5 minutes.
3️⃣ Make the gravy
- Add ginger and green chilies to the pan.
- Stir in turmeric and the mustard-poppy paste.
- Add water or milk gradually, mix well.
- Bring to a simmer.
4️⃣ Combine
- Add all vegetables (including fried bitter gourd) to the gravy.
- Cover and cook 10–15 minutes until vegetables are tender.
- Stir in sugar and salt.
- Optional: add cream or milk for richer flavor.
5️⃣ Serve
- Traditionally served hot with steamed rice.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves if desired.
🔥 Pro Tips
- Shukto is meant to have mild bitterness, but frying bitter gourd lightly before adding reduces extreme bitterness.
- Mustard oil gives authentic flavor; use sparingly if not accustomed.
- Poppy-mustard paste is key — it gives Shukto its signature nutty, slightly pungent flavor.
- Other seasonal vegetables (ridge gourd, beans) can be added.
If you want, I can give a simplified “everyday Shukto” version that uses readily available vegetables and is less bitter but still authentic-tasting.
Do you want me to do that?
