Potol Bata aka Pointed Gourd Paste is a Bengali Potol dish (entree) mostly served with Steamed Rice. In this Bengali potol recipe, a spicy paste is prepared with ripe Pointed Gourd aka Parwal, and a few other ingredients. This is a vegetarian Indian Parwal recipe and you can make it very easily. The Bengali Pointed gourd paste can be stored in the fridge for 7 days.
Potol bata aka Bengali Potol bhate recipe video with the detailed steps!
30-minute vegan recipe with pointed gourd
I have an abundance of potol (pointed gourd) at home, many of which are ripe. As a result, I have been preparing this dish frequently lately. Additionally, when I make the potol bata (a Bengali-type mash cooked with spices and pointed gourd), I store it in the refrigerator and serve it on alternate days, alternating with other types of bata or bhate (similar preparations) alongside rice on the remaining days.
Potol bata, a Bengali Entree!
Potol Bata aka Pointed Gourd Paste is a Bengali entree mostly served with Steamed Rice. In this recipe, a spicy paste is prepared with ripe Pointed Gourd aka Parwal, and a few other ingredients. This is a vegetarian recipe and you can make it very easily. This can be stored in the fridge for 7 days.
Potol Bata vs. Potol Bhate, the battle of Bangal Vs. Ghoti!
Surprisingly, I have seen this dish cooked in both Bangal as well as Ghoti households. While in the Ghoti households, we call it Makha or Bata, they call Potol bhorta in the Bangal households. In general, Ghoti Potol Makha does not call for Roshun aka Garlic while the Bangal Bata is flavored with garlic in most cases.
Is potol bata a Lockdown recipe?
We have limited access to the market and the easily available veggies during the lockdown. If not anything, this period has taught us to utilize resources properly. This kind of recipe where veggies like ripe pointed gourd which we, in general, do not eat are used to make an entree for sure is the lockdown-friendly recipe. It calls for limited ingredients and an easy cooking process after all.
This is how I make Bengali Potol Bata at Debjanir Rannaghar!
Potol Bata
Ingredients
- 7 Potol/ Pointed Gourd Preferably Ripe
- 1 Tomato
- 2 Green Chilli
- 6 Garlic Clove
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- ½ teaspoon Nigella Seed/ Kalojire:
- 1 teaspoon Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon Mustard Oil
Instructions
Prep work
- Coat the veggies with a few drops of Mustard oil.
- This will help to keep the moisture while roasting the veggies.
Cooking
- Now roast the Pointed gourd over the medium flame using a bread roaster.
- Roast one side of the Pointed Gourd for around one minute.
- Turn the Potol using a tong to roast another side.
- Now Roast the Tomato following the same process.
- The roasted veggies are to be at room temperature while making the paste aka bata.
- Make a smooth paste along with the Green Chillies, and also the Garlic Cloves.
- Heat Mustard Oil in a pan.
- Temper the Oil with Nigella Seed.
- Add the paste and stir vigorously.
- Now add Turmeric Powder, Cumin Powder, Red Chilli Powder, and also Salt and mix.
- Cook on a slow flame for around 3 minutes.
- Stir in between.
- Add a few drops of Mustard Oil and adjust the salt if needed.
- Once done switch the flame off.
Serving Suggestion
- Serve Potol Bata with steamed Rice.
Video
Nutrition
Lockdown-friendly recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Doodh Sooji aka Mohanbhog (also known as Suji)
- Halwai Style Balushahi (also known as badushah)
- Paneer er Dalna (also known as Niramish Paneer Er Torkari)
- Chicken Salad (also known as cold chicken salad)
- Neem Begun (also known as Stir-fried Neem leaves and Eggplant)
- Instant Mawa Recipe with three Ingredients (also known as homemade Khowa)
- Banana Peanut butter Ice cream (also known as banana nicecream)
- Shobji diye Shutki Macher Jhol (Also known as Shutkir Jhaal)
- Dalgona Coffee Recipe (also known as Whipped Coffee | Netizen’s favorite Phenti Hui Coffee)
- Kolar Bora (also known as Bengali Banana Fritters)
- Dim Pauruti (also known as Bengali Dim Toast)
- Chingri Bati Chorchori (also known as Chingri Macher Batichorchori
- Begun Borir Ambol (also known as Bori Beguner Ambol)
- Lau Shaker Chorchori (also known as Bengali Vegetarian Mishmash with Bottle Gourd Greens)
- Nimki Makha (Also known as bengali nimki chaat)
- Kolkata Mutton Biryani (also known as Calcutta Biryani)
- Posto Mangsho (also known as Bengali Mutton Curry cooked with Poppy Seed Paste)
- Rosh Bora (also known as Fritters served with Runny Sugar/ Jaggery syrup) | Bengali Rosh Bora recipe
- Punjabi Kadhi (also known as Kadhi Pakoda)
- Piajkoli ar Aloo diye Tangra Macher Jhol (also known as Bengali Light fish curry prepared with Tyangra Maach, Onion Stalks and Potato)
- Mangshor Jhol (Bengali light Mutton curry) in a Pressure Cooker!
- Chicken Chaap; Chaap Bhaja, the perfect companion for Kolkata Biryani
- Pishpash aka Pish Pash, the Anglo-Indian Rice and Chicken Hotchpotch
- Doi Murgi | Kolkata style Doi Chicken | Bengali Curd-based Chicken Curry Recipe
Have you tried the Bengali Potol Bata aka Potol Bhorta 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 on dolonchttrj@gmail.com. Meanwhile, on Instagram, you can use my hashtag #debjanirrannaghar and in addition, you can tag me at @foodofdebjani.
Here's the Potol bhate Pin for your Pinterest Board!
About Debjani Chatterjee Alam
I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.
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