Bori Aloor Jhal (Bengali Bori'r Jhal)

Bori Aloor Jhal aka Bengali Bori'r Jhal is a signature Bengali delicacy cooked with Bori aka Vadi. Bori is sundried dumplings prepared with fermented lentils. This curry is cooked with mustard paste and Borir Jhal is a Bengali Vegan delicacy!

Jump to:

• Tricks of Recipe writing!
• Bori Aloor Jhal or Aloo Borir Jhal?
• Bori; only a filler?
• Bori Aloo'r Jhal, some more details!
• Aloo borir Jhal, not only vegetarian but Vegan Bengali!
• Here's how I make Bori Aloor Jhal at Debjanir Rannaghar!
• Recipe Card
• Bengali Vegan and Vegetarian recipes!

Tricks of Recipe writing!

These days SEO is something recipe writers think about while coming up with the recipes on their websites or Recipe blogs. Not that it will concern you when you are there on that particular website just for the recipes. However, we as writers, when are confident about the recipes, would like to be at the top of the search when one particular recipe is searched. I am no exception and emphasize strongly on search engine optimization aka SEO. However, there are times when I give less emphasis on SEO. This post is one of those. I named it Bori Aloor Jhal instead of Aloo Borir Jhal knowing it would make the SEO difficult. Also, after all, is more popular if compared to Bori. However, this dish is characterized by the use of Bori, and hence I decided to give it the due.

Bori Aloor Jhal or Aloo Borir Jhal?

Jhal aka Bengali Mustard based curry is my favorite amongst the various Bengali curries. I blame it on my Ghoti root that I have always liked Jhal over the other Bengali curries such as Dalna, Jhol, Kalia, etc. I have grown up having Macher Jhal which is the most popular form of Jhal and is prepared with Fish. However, Jhal is not only prepared with Fish or Non-veg protein; in fact, there are numerous vegetarian Jhal(s) cooked and cherished by the Bengalis. In this post, I will talk about Bengali Bori Aloor Jhal or Aloo Borir Jhal. As I have mentioned in the first paragraph, in this dish Bori is the queen while Aloo plays the side role. Needless to say, it is more of Bori Aloor Jhal than Aloo Borir Jhal, at least to me.

Bori; only a filler?

Bori is not only a filler period. For those who are not familiar with Bori, it is sun-dried lentil dumplings and is part of Bengali cuisine for ages. Bori in fact is one of the nicest examples of natural preservation. After making a paste of lentils the same is dried under the sun. The paste is dried in dumpling forms. Once dried, the lentil dumplings can be stored for a year. Bori is prepared with different lentils such as Kolai Dal/ Urad Dal, Masoor Dal/ Red Lentil, etc. Making proper Bori is difficult and almost rare these days. Most people purchase Bori instead of making it at home. I am lucky though as I got the supply from my mother or mother-in-law. Both of them to date make Bori at home. Another beautiful form of Bori is Purba Medinipur's Gohona Bori. You may here at Debjanir Rannaghar about Gohona Bori.

Bori Aloo'r Jhal, some more details!

I have not seen my Maa-in-law making Jhal however, in my parental house, Jhal is very frequent. They still do not use a mixer grinder to make the mustard paste, instead use the Shil Nora. I, though, follow the recipe line by line, however, do not use the Shil Nora (Traditional stone grinder) much. For this recipe, I use the Bori prepared with Kolai Dal aka Urad Dal. The Bori in the pictures is from Ma-in-law's stock. Jhal does not call for many spices, in fact, I use only turmeric powder, red chili powder, a few green chilis along with mustard oil. Tomato makes the curry tangy and I prefer using it. Last but not least, Aloo aka potato makes it better 🙂 .

Aloo borir Jhal, not only vegetarian but Vegan Bengali!

Am I a vegetarian?

-No!

Am I a Vegan?

-No!

However, I do make and eat both types. There is a misconception that Bengali cuisine is all about Non-vegetarian dishes. This for sure is right however, we do have hundreds of vegetarian delicacies to offer. There are numerous dishes that are vegan as well! Aloo Borir Jhal for sure is one of those dishes.

Here's how I make Bori Aloor Jhal at Debjanir Rannaghar!

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Bengali Vegan and Vegetarian recipes!

• Lau Shaker Chorchori (Also known as Bengali Vegetarian Mishmash with Bottle Gourd Greens)
• Pyaz Diye Masoor Dal (Also known as Bengali Red Lentil Soup with Onion)
• Sheemer Jhal (Also known as Bengali Shorshe Sheem or Broad Bean Curry with Mustard Paste)
• Lau ar Aloo er Khosa Bhaja (Also known as Stir-Fried Bottle Gourd and Potato Skin/ Peel)
• Dhokar Dalna (Also known as Bengali Dhoka Curry)
• Laal Shag Bhaja (also known as Stir-fried Red Amaranth Leaves)
• Kumro Phuler Bora (Also known as Bengali Pumpkin Flower Fritters)
• Katoya Data Chorchori (Also known as Bengali Style Mix-veg with Drumsticks)
• Gota Sheddho (Also Known as Gota)

Have you tried the Bori Aloo'r Jhal recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!

Do let me know how it came out. Also, I would love to see a picture of the same which you can share here at dolonchttrj@gmail.com. Meanwhile, on Instagram, you can use my hashtag #debjanirrannaghar and in addition, you can tag me at @foodofdebjani.

Here's the Bori Aloo Jhal Pin for your Pinterest Board!