Lau Patae Chingri Paturi (Prawns Cooked in Bottle gourd leaf)

Paturi is a traditional Bengali dish,the word "paaturi" comes from the Bengali word "paata" or leaf.
Generally we Bengali make  paturi  using  Iilish or hilsa ,Bhetki or Baramundi and chingri or prawn.  In those recipes,fish is marinated in mustard paste wrapped in banana leaf,pumpkin leaf or bottle gourd leaf and then cooked on tawa through slow cooking.

Today I am going to share Lau Patae Chingri Paturi recipe or prawns with spices wrapped in bottle gourd leaf.When you will make Paturi using tender,aromatic edible leaf such as pumpkin,bottle gourd, spinach and cabbage then you can eat this leaf also along with the dish.In this recipe I added some curd,though in traditional recipe curd is not used.
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Author-Moumita
Preparation Time-10 Minutes
Cooking Time-10 Minutes
Marination Time-30  Minutes
Servings-2
Cuisine-Bengal
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Ingredients
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Prawns or shrimps-500 grams
Black mustard seed - 2 tablespoons
Grated coconut - 1/4 cup 
Green chilies - 4+4
Curd-1 tablesooon
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 teaspoon +1/2 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Bottle gourd leaf(Lau pata)-4  pieces
Mustard oil - 2 tablespoons+1 teaspoons
Simple stitching thread or toothpick -Few

Method
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Wash prawns under running water and then devein the prawns.Sprinkle some salt and turmeric and then mix well.

Wash the leaves under running water.Boil some water with salt and dip the leaves into them for a second then drain the salty water through strainer.Keep aside the leaves.

Soak mustard seeds in little warm water for 15 minutes,then drain the water .Blend together mustard seeds,4 green chilies,coconut and some little salt to make a coarse  paste using little water.

Add prawns in this masala paste,add curd,salt,remaining turmeric  powder,  and 2tablespoons mustard oil,now mix everything together very well and cover with lid .Keep them aside for 30 minutes.

Take a leaf on your palm,put some oil on leaf and rub with hands properly.

Put a spoonful of marinated prawns in the centre of the leaf,pour few drops mustard oil on it. Slit a chilli and put in on the marinated prawns.

Fold the leaf to make it a square parcel and tie with thread that the parcels will not open while cooking. Repeat the process for all the remaining marinated prawns.

Now take a non-stick pan and grease some oil to it and place the leaf wrapped prawns on it (you can place 4 - 5 pieces at a time ,according to the size of your  pan,you  can place) ,close the pan with an air tight lid and cook on medium heat for 8-9 minutes each side.

When one batch is done , remove them and place in an air tight container to keep the paturies hot. Again repeat the same process to cook the rest paturies.

Serve the hot bottle gourd leaf wrapped  prawns paturi or Lau Parae Chingri Paturi with steamed rice.

Want to know more Fish n Seafood Recipes,please click Here