Thorer Ghonto

Thorer Ghonto

"Thorr"  is the soft inner portion of the banana stem. This is an extremely delicious dish. This dish "Thorer Ghonto", prepared in a simple style tastes the best. Too many heavy spices are not used in the preparation. 

This recipe is my mom's and you don't mess with an old recipe as this.....mistakes if any are entirely mine, as she dictated it to me on phone. Mom says its my Thakuni's (Grandmom) recipe and so, really old.  This is a "Niramish " (vegetarian )preparation. I would love to share it with you all.

Chopping is treaky. Now days, it comes chopped in packets and so we don't have to spend hours finely chopping the banana stem.  But if you are ready to do the tough work yourself, be armed with two table spoons of mustard oil or  use salt. This precaution while handling the stem is necessary as the stem gives out a sticky sap which  causes the skin to turn black on contact.

 Two ways that ma prepares Thor Ghonto are.....
 1) with rice and grated coconut
 2) with aloo and  grated coconut (you can add boiled soft peas too )

A third preparation is Thor Chechki.....
 Thor is chopped fine, boiled and then mashed. Then in a little mustard oil the Thor is prepared with mustard and dry chilly as tempering.

Ingredients

Banana Stem, finely chopped &boiled-1 cup

Gobindo Bhog Rice,soaked-1 tbsp

Green Peas,boiled-1/2 cup

Coconut, Grated-1/2 coconut

Potato,cubed-1,medium size

Cumin Seeds-a pinch

Bay Leaf-2

Green Chilly,slit-4

Salt-as per taste

Sugar- as per taste

Turmeric-a pinch

Ghee-2 tsp

Ginger Paste-1/4 tsp

Cumin Powder-1/2 tsp

Garam Masala Powder- 1/4 tsp

Preparation

Chop the Thor fine and put in a bowl of water immedietely. Then steam and drain. Then coarsely mash with hand.
Wash and dry the very small cubed potato and fry lightly. Keep aside.
Grate the coconut and keep aside.
Boil the green peas till soft.
(If you are making with rice then Soak the Gobindo Bhog Rice for fifteen minutes. Drain and dry the rice. In a teaspoon of oil, fry it golden brown and keep aside .

 Procedure

In a pan, heat 1 tbsp White Oil and 1 tsp Desi Ghee. Add Bay Leaves, Green Chillies and Cumin        Seeds. Let them splutter, then stir a bit.

Add Thor, Turmeric, Cumin Powder, Ginger Paste, Salt and Sugar.

Add the golden fried Potato cubes (and rice and peas whatever you are using at this stage)
Give all a mix.
Cover and cook till the potato cubes or rice is soft.

Add the boiled peas and grated coconut and mix. Cover and cook for two minutes .

Lastly, uncover and add the Garam Masala and Desi Ghee.

Serve with hot steamed Rice



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