Bengali Mutton Stew with Veggies in a pressure cooker | Shobji diye Mangshor Jhol

Bengali Mutton stew with veggies; sounds interesting? Well, to me it was that dish which my mother excels in cooking. She was famous to feed all the unwilling kids growing up together in our Central Kolkata-based joint family. I would not say it was interesting to me while growing up. After all, there was gorgore Mangshor Jhol (with aloo) for the adults while Maa used to cook the Shobji diye mangshor jhol for the kids. It was subtle, loaded with seasonal veggies, and cooked with soft chunks of mutton. She used to use butter as the base. The dish for sure is tasty and comforting but this is not what you can say to a growing kid who wanted to have the spicy alternative.

It is funny that now I love the Bengali Mutton Stew and even at times over Kosha Mangsho or mangshor Jhol. I suppose our preference for food changes with the change of age. However, I do not cook it separately for Pasta. I know how it felt to have separate food specially cooked for the kids. I guess all my cousins and nieces and nephews will vouch for this.

Even after not liking the stew for years, I follow my mother's recipe for Bengali Mutton Stew. Maa uses as much as seasonal veggies available, soft chunks of mutton and a few bone pieces, butter, and some whole spices to make it. In addition to this, I must mention, the age-old pressure cooker plays a very important role in making the stew. No slow cooking, no time-consuming process for this.