Bengali cuisine
Prawns
bottle gourd leaves
Intermediate
For 4 people

Bengali-Style Bottle Gourd Leaves and Prawns with Sunrise Spices


A comforting Bengali dish showcasing a medley of tender prawns and bottle gourd leaves in a lightly spiced coconut gravy. Enriched with the earthy notes of Sunrise Kala Jeera, the warmth of Sunrise Haldi Powder, and the nutty aroma of Sunrise Shorshe Posto Powder, this simple yet flavoursome curry pairs beautifully with steamed rice.

Ingredients

  • Sunrise Kala Jeera

    1 tbsp
  • Water (for soaking kala jeera)

    60 mL
  • Sunrise Shorshe Posto Powder

    1 tbsp
  • Water (for mixing posto powder)

    60 mL
  • Prawns (shelled and deveined)

    500 g
  • Sunrise Haldi Powder

    1 tsp
  • Salt

    1 tsp
  • Mustard oil

    4 tbsp
  • Green chillies (slit lengthwise)

    4
  • Grated coconut

    60 g
  • Bottle gourd (lauki) leaves (washed and trimmed)

    250 g
  • Sugar

    1 tsp

Sunrise tip: For a richer gravy, you can use the prawn heads and shells to make a quick stock and add it to the dish while cooking the spice paste.

 

Steps

Step 1: Prepare Kala Jeera and Posto Pastes

Time: 5 minutes

Soak the Sunrise Kala Jeera in 60 mL of water for 10 minutes. Grind into a smooth paste and set aside.

Mix the Sunrise Shorshe Posto Powder with 60 mL of water. Set aside to bloom until needed.

 

Step 2: Season and Fry Prawns

Time: 10 minutes

In a bowl, mix the cleaned prawns with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp Sunrise Haldi Powder.

Heat 2 tbsp mustard oil in a pan. Fry the prawns until reddish-golden. Remove and set aside.

 

Step 3: Prepare Lauki Leaves Paste

Time: 15 minutes

In the same pan, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add 1/2 tsp Sunrise Kala Jeera seeds, slit green chillies, and remaining prawns. Sauté for a minute.

Add grated coconut, 1/2 tsp Sunrise Haldi Powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Mix well.

Stir in the bottle gourd leaves. Drizzle 1 tbsp mustard oil on top and mix thoroughly.

Remove from heat. Once cool, blend into a thick paste.

 

Step 4: Cook the Dish

Time: 20 minutes

Heat the remaining 1 tbsp of oil in the pan. Add the lauki leaves and prawn paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Stir in the prepared Sunrise Kala Jeera and Shorshe Posto pastes. Add 1 tsp sugar and mix well.

Season with salt to taste. Cook until the gravy thickens and most of the water evaporates.

Add the fried prawns. Mix gently and cook for 2 more minutes to blend the flavours.

Turn off the heat. Serve hot with steamed rice.

 

Goes Best With

  • Side Dish: Begun bhaja (fried eggplant slices), Aloo posto (potato with poppy seeds)