Chingri diye Pui Metuli Chorchori

I made a list of recipes at the beginning of the year with which I plan to work for the entire year. Last year also I had a plan, however, it is more structured this year. After almost 10 years of recipe writing, now that I have around 500 recipes on the blog, I have certain flexibility. I am now open to thinking beyond Kosha mangsho and Cholar Dal. This year you are going to get mostly the unconventional Bengali recipes from my end. I am going to write more about Chorchori, Shorshori, Ghonto, Chenchki, etc. Here in the post, to continue with the plan I have, sharing the recipe of Chingri diye Pui Metuli Chorchori. Nor rare neither a signature recipe of mine, yet this is not much widely cooked. The heart of this chorchori is a fruit called Pui Metuli which is the fruit/ seed of Malabar spinach.

Pui Metuli aka the fruit of Malabar Spinach is not something very popular in day to day cooking. In fact, in my parent’s house, I never had it though Pui Shak was used in cooking quite regularly. I first-time had it at my in-law’s place though I have seen the beautiful fruits selling in the market. I thought of purchasing the metuli several times, however, I started using it in my kitchen once I savored it at Dubrajpur, my in-law’s place last year.

You cannot get the Pui dana aka Pui metuli all through the year. I mostly see the metuli available in February March.

Let me tell you, I clicked the pictures last year and thanks to my laziness skipped posting the recipe when the metuli was available last year. This year, however, I overcome the laziness and here I am with the recipe.

It tastes good when used in chorchori or tarkari. Often people cook it with fish head or small fishes such as Mourola and also with shrimps. They mostly use shrimps while cooking Pui metuli at my in-laws. It is nothing but a mix-veg with shrimps called Chingri Pui Metuli Chorchori.

The recipe of Chingri diye Pui Metuli Chorchori calls for locally available veggies and fresh shrimps along with Pui metuli. There is no hard and fast rule of selecting the veggies. I use Potato, Eggplant, Carrot, Cauliflower, Onion, Tomato and whatever I get available. I prefer using medium-sized clean shrimps without the shell.

There is a common say in Bengali “মাছের মধ্যে রুই আর শাকের মধ্যে পুঁই ” (Macher modhye Rui aar shaker modhye Pui). This means Rui is the best of the best amongst fishes and so is Pui amongst the greens. Malabar spinach is loaded with Vitamin A, C, Iron and also Calcium. The fruits are also having similar nutrients and hence good for health.