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Shalazam Chokha/ Bhurta (Turnip Mess)

Servings: 4
Grilling time: 9 minutes.
Preparation time: 6 minutes.
Frying time: 11 minutes.
Total time: 26 minutes.

During first rain of the season which was on Sunday morning, we were enjoying in Balcony the petrichor reminded me the smell of “Litti–Chokha” of my hometown and immediately I decided to cook the fabulous meal from Bihar but I didn’t have eggplant for chokha in our refrigerator.

Here I changed the idea and instead of using conventional eggplant I used turnip (Shalazam) to prepare Chokha for “Litti-chokha”. I charred the turnip in griller after coating the turnip with ghee.

Happy cooking…

Ingredients:

Shalazam: 200-250 gm. (2 no).
Shalazam foliage (soft): optional
Tomato: 2 no. (Medium size)
Onion: 1 no. (Medium size)
Green chilli: 2-3 no. (As per your taste)
Ginger: 1” piece
Garlic: 2-3 flakes
Turmeric powder: 1 pinch
Fennel seed: 1 tablespoon
Kalongi: ½ teaspoon
Garam masala powder: ¼ teaspoon
Mustard oil: 4 tablespoon
Salt: 1 teaspoon

Preparation:

Grind fennel seed and kalongi to fine powder, keep aside.
Cut the turnip into four parts, apply few drops of ghee/oil all over the turnip and tomato; roast/grill direct on the gas burner on medium low flame or on grill, keep turning after every minute to cook it evenly, roast till it become completely cooked and soft(about 8-9 minutes), let it cool. Mash properly with the help of masher, Keep aside.
Chop onion, green chilli, garlic, turnip foliage and ginger into small pieces, keep aside.

Method:

Take fry pan heat oil, when it smokes add cumin; sputter for few seconds add chopped garlic, ginger and green chilli. Stir fry for few seconds, add chopped onion, continue to fry on medium flame for couple of minutes till onion gets translucent, and add green foliage of turnip.
Cook for a minute add mashed tomato; fry till liquid dries up add mashed turnip, turmeric powder and salt, stir fry for 3-4 minutes until getting desired consistency.
Add prepared fennel and kalongi powder; stir and put off the flame; “Shalazam Chokha/ Bhurta (Turnip Mess)” is ready to be served as a side dish. We used with “Litti”.