KUMROR CHAKKA (PUMPKIN CURRY WITH POTATO AND BLACK CHEEKPEAS )BENGALI STYLE,A VEGAN RECIPE

Kumro means pumpkin  in English and kaddu in Hindi,Kumror Chakka is a traditional  bengali vegetable  dish made with pumpkin, potato or aloo and kala chana or black Cheakpeas or kalo chola (in Bengali). It does not have onion,garlic and any dairy based product so it can be used as a Vegan recipe. The method of cooking this dish differs slightly from home to home in West Bengal . Every home has their own variation but  the main ingredients are always the same.
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Author - Moumita 
Preparation Time - 10 Minutes 
Cooking Time - 15 Minutes 
Servings - 2 
Recipe Category - Bengali Vegetarian Dish 
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INGREDIENTS 
Kumro or Kaddu or Pumpkin -1cup (peeled  and cut into 1inch cubes)

Aloo or Potato -3/4th cup (peeled and cut into litt bit smaller  size of pumpkin  as potatoes  cook faster than pumkpin )

Black chickpeas-1/2 cup(boiled)

Pachphoron -1 teaspoon ( it is a bengali spices mix,
made with 5 spices- fenugreek or methi, mustard or sorso,white cumin or jeera, black cumin or kalonji & fennel/aniseed(mouri) or saunf - mix each in equal quantity and store for future use)

Bay leaf-1

Dry Red Chilli - 2

Ginger paste-2 tablespoons

Green Chillies - 2

Tomatoes -1 small (chopped )

Cumin Powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric Powder -1 / 2 teaspoon

Mix ginger paste,green chilli paste, cumin powder, turmeric powder in a bowl with little bit water, in this way the masala will not get burn while cooking )

Salt to taste

Sugar - 1 / 2 teaspoon

Oil-1/4 cup ( preferrably mustard oil )

Roasted Cumin Powder -1/ 2 teaspoon  (dry roast cumin seeds then grind to make a fine powder )

METHOD 

Cook the chickpea in 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker until it is soft and done. It takes about 6-8 whistle.

Heat a oil in a pan, add potao cubes...fry on medium flame until light brown..remove from heat and keep aside.

Add bay leaf , dry red chilli and panch phoran into the remaining oil,  let them splutter.

Add ginger ,chilli and spices mixture..mix and stir for 30 seconds.


Add chopped  tomatoes. .mix and cook  until oil gets  separated.

 Now add pumpkin  and  fried potato cubes..mix and  continuously  stirring  on medium  flow for 2 minutes.

Add salt  and sugar.. mix...add 1/2 cup water..bring it to boil..when the water starts boiling. .simmer the gas and cover with lid

Cook over medium heat until vegetables  are almost done.

Add boiled chickpeas,roasted cumin powder. .and cook for another 2 minutes  on medium flame.

Your Kumror  Chakka  is ready to serve .

 Transfer  to a serving bowl. .it goes well with poori or luchi,ruti,chapati and also with dal rice.