Jhinge Posto | Ridge Gourd Recipe with Poppy Seeds
By Mita Mondal
Jhinge Posto is a traditional Bengali dish that features tender ridge gourds (known as "jhinge" in Bengali) cooked in a creamy and flavorful poppy seed paste, known as "posto."
Take 1 kg of ridge gourds and cut them into roundels. Clean the pieces and set them aside.
Make a posto (poppy seed) dry paste by grinding 5 tbsp of poppy seeds. Then add 6 green chilis, 1 tbsp of cashew nuts, ½ tbsp of salt, and a little bit of water. Grind altogether to form a smooth creamy paste.
Heat 2 tbsp of mustard oil in a wok. Once the oil is hot, add ½ tbsp of nigella seeds and 1 dry red chili. Sauté until a pleasant aroma is released.(Pro tip: Adjust the amount of oil as per your preference)
Add the ridge gourds to the wok and mix them well. Cover the wok and allow them to cook.
Uncover the lid. Continue cooking over high heat. Incorporate the poppy paste into the ridge gourds and mix everything thoroughly. Sprinkle in ½ tbsp of turmeric powder and 1 tbsp of salt. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
Pour in ½ cup of water, and then cover the wok for 5 minutes to let the dish cook.(Pro tip: Adjust the amount of water according to your desired gravy consistency.)
After 5 minutes, add ½ tbsp of sugar and 1 tbsp of mustard oil. Introduce slitted green chilis and cover the wok. Turn off the flame.
Jhinge posto is ready.
Transfer Jhinge posto to a serving bowl and serve it with steamed rice and chapati.
Select fresh and soft ridge gourds that are not overly mature as it may taste bitter. Fresh and green ridge gourds will enhance the flavor of the dish.
Choose the best quality poppy seeds to get the best results. Before grinding them to a paste, I soak them in water for about half an hour.
Mustard oil is essential to make this dish. The distinct pungent and strong flavor of the oil will add to the taste and flavor of the dish. Of course, if you do not want it to be very strong, heat the oil smoking hot and then cool it down. This will mellow the taste down.
Control the consistency of the gravy precisely. Add water gradually as the gravy thickens. Check the consistency according to your preference.
Regulate the amount of spices and sugar added to the dish according to your taste preferences. An ideal jhinge posto is mildly spicy and sweet without overpowering the taste of the poppy seeds and the ridge gourd.
Nutrition Info (Estimation Only)
Nutrition Facts
Jhinge Posto | Ridge Gourd Recipe with Poppy Seeds
Amount per Serving
Calories
179
Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
6
g
Cholesterol
2
mg
1
%
Sodium
816
mg
35
%
Potassium
219
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
12
g
4
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
29
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
11
mg
13
%
Calcium
171
mg
17
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.