Recently we had written about different kinds of chorchori on Instagram. It became a huge talking point on social media and everyone came out with their favourite chorchori recipes. One of them did point out that it was spelled incorrectly and that the right spelling would be ‘chochhori’. It is the way it is pronounced in Bengali. And even though I agree a hundred percent, Google doesn’t. Chorchori has a greater keyword search than chochhori. So here goes our post on Pui shaaker er chorchori.

Only I know how many minutes I spent deciding the various spelling combinations for this particular post. Should it begin with Malabar spinach or Pui shaak. Should it be pui shaak or shak or saag. Oh! It’s like going down a rabbit hole of spelling combinations for Pui shaker chorchori.

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Chorchori Chronicles on Instagram

What is it about this mish-mash of vegetables that is so loved by all Bongs and any non-Bong who has tasted it? But then. there are so many kinds of chorchori and it’s not restricted to vegetables only. The broad definition is when more than one vegetable and/ or protein are stir-fried with different tempering, it is called chorchori. But why the name chochhori? Any ideas? Despite several comments, no one could come up with the reason. Here’s the link to the post and you can learn about several more chorchoris on that – Link to Instagram

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What goes into Pui Shaaker Chorchori?

The primary ingredient of this chorchori is Malabar Spinach. We use both the leaves and the tender shoots. Although the drumsticks from pui saag take a bit longer to cook, they are filled with flavour and nutrition. The second important ingredient is bori. These are urad dal vadis or dried lentil dumplings that are deep-fried and used to give texture and flavour to the food.

Other seasonal vegetables include brinjal, pumpkin and potatoes. You can add ridge gourd in summer, broad beans and sweet potato in winter too. The tempering is very simple- panchphoron and dried red chilies. Ginger paste plays a major role in the flavour. Freshly grated ginger gives it the necessary earthy aroma with a mild heat. Instead of ginger paste, you can also use mustard paste but not too much.

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Have you ever tried chorchori in a paturi?

Serving Suggestions

Chorchori is typically served with steamed rice. Alternately, you can have it with roti or even luchi.

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Pui Shaaker Chorchori | Pui Saag Chochhori

Malabar spinach and seasonal vegetable stir-fry
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Course Main Course, Vegetarian
Cuisine Bangladeshi, Bengali, Indian
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large potato
  • 1 medium-sized brinjal eggplant
  • 1 medium-sized radish
  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 1 thick slice pumpkin
  • 1 bunch Malabar spinach with the stem
  • 8-10 nos Urad Dal Bori Vadi/ dried lentil dumpling
  • ½ tsp panchphoron
  • 2 nos dried red chilies
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp freshly grated ginger
  • 3 tbsp mustard oil
  • 2-3 green chilies
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Peel the potato and sweet potato. Wash them under running water. Cut the potato into half lengthwise. Then cut each piece into four quarters. Keep the potatoes submerged in a bowl of water.
  • Cut the sweet potato into one-inch pieces and keep them submerged in a bowl of water.
  • Wash the brinjal under running water. Cut it lengthwise into 4 pieces and then cut each piece of one-inch cubes.
  • Peel off the pumpkin skin and cut it into one-inch cubes. Do the same with the radish.
  • Wash the Malabar spinach thoroughly under running water. Tear the leaves roughly or chop with a knife.
  • Cut the stems and shoots to two-inch length.
  • Take a large kadai or wok. Heat one tbsp mustard oil and fry the lentil dumplings (bori). They should be golden brown in colour. Take them out and drop half of them in a bowl of water and the other half, set aside.
  • Take 1 tbsp mustard oil and when it is hot, fry the brinjal pieces lightly and keep them aside.
  • In the same kadai, heat the rest of the mustard oil. Add dried red chilies and panchphoron.
  • When the panchphoron starts to splutter, add potatoes, sweet potato (without the water), the drumsticks (from the Malabar spinach) and radish. Fry these over high heat. I haven't added the pumpkin and brinjal since they cook faster.
  • Add salt and turmeric powder and stir for a couple of minutes. Then lower the heat and cover and let the vegetables cook in their own moisture.
  • Once in a while, remove the cover and stir. After ten minutes of cooking, add the pumpkin pieces. Stir and cover once more.
  • When the vegetables are cooked halfway, add the spinach leaves. If your brinjal is just fried lightly, then add to the vegetables. If they are fully cooked, then add in the end.
  • Sprinkle sugar and add freshly grated ginger. Also, when the vegetables are almost cooked, add the dried lentil bori that are soaked in water. Mix everything and over medium to high heat stir and cook the vegetables.
  • Once everything has come together, adjust the seasoning. Add split green chilies and break the lentils that were dry and add to the vegetables for a crunchy texture.
  • Mix everything thoroughly and serve with rice.
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