Chapor Ghonto Recipe (Bengali Mix Vegetable With Lentils Patties)

Step 1: To begin making the Chapor Ghonto recipe, soak the lentils overnight or for at least 3 hrs

Step 2: Wash well and drain

Step 3: Make a paste with a little turmeric powder, green chilies (depending on your taste), ginger (one teaspoon) and a pinch of salt

Step 4: Try to add as little water as possible while making the paste

Step 5: Keep aside

Step 6: Grate the coconut and keep aside

Step 7: Adding grated coconut is optional

Step 8: Make a paste of poppy seed and black mustard seeds with a pinch of salt and a green chilli

Step 9: Keep aside

Step 10: Heat mustard oil in a heavy bottomed pan

Step 11: When the oil is smoking hot take tablespoon full of lentil paste and shallow fry

Step 12: While placing the lentil paste on the pan press it with fingers and make sure they do not have any definite shape

Step 13: Shallow fry the rest of the lentil paste and keep aside

Step 14: These are the 'Chapor'

Step 15: Next, cut the vegetables and wash well

Step 16: Drain any excess water

Step 17: Heat mustard oil in a deep pan or kadhai, when the oil is hot add the eggplant pieces and fry till brown, keep aside

Step 18: In the same pan add more oil if needed, when the oil is hot add panch phoran masala or bengali five spice mix, dry red chilies, bay leaves

Step 19: As the spices release nice aroma add the potato, taro root (also add pointed gourd if using) with little salt and turmeric powder, cover and cook

Step 20: After 10 minutes, add other vegetables and rest of the grated ginger cover and cook it till the vegetables are done

Step 21: Once the vegetables are soft, add mustard-poppy seed paste mix well

Step 22: Break the chapor or the lentil patties and add

Step 23: Add salt and sugar to taste

Step 24: If you like your dish to be spicy add green chilies

Step 25: Garnish with grated coconut and serve hot

Step 26: Serve Chapor Ghonto along with Steamed Rice and Aloo Posto for weekday lunch or dinner

Step 27: You can also serve Chaler Payesh after your meal as a dessert