Shobji'r Khosha Bata / Vegetable Peel Mash: Recipe with Step by Step Pictures

We Bangals (people hailing from East Bengal) are touted to be “the eating everything” people. Well, we do not literally eat ‘everything’, but we don’t really like wasting things either, especially if we can convert those apparent waste products into beautiful dishes, which are not only different, yummy, but has a distinct character of their own. Vegetable peels are one such thing that we tend to waste a lot, but they can be converted into beautiful side dishes, which can be used as chutneys, or can be eaten with piping hot rice or can also be converted into parantha fillings that are totally lip smacking.

Shobji’r Kosha Bata, a recipe passed down through generations, from granny’s to mums and mums to us and I hope to pass this to my little ones as well. This dish is so delicious and so nutritious; I always end up eating a good amount of rice whenever there is Kosha Bata on my plate. And I am sure you too won’t be able to stop from having a few extra spoons.

INGREDIENTS :

• Skin of plantains, pointed gourd, bottle gourd, potatoes, etc.
• 1 tbsp mustard oil
• 4-5 garlic bulbs
• Roughly sliced onions 
• 2/3^rd tsp kalongi
• Green chilies (The quantity depends on you)
• 1 tsp of sugar ( I didn’t have sugar granules, so used sugar powder instead)
• Salt to taste

 PROCEDURE :

• Wash the vegetable skins and steam in pressure cooker for few minutes. Make sure you don’t add too much water; add water in a way so that after the steaming, you are left with no more than half a cup of water.

• Now grind the skin along with the water, garlic bulbs and chillies to a smooth paste. 

• Heat oil in a kadai/pan and add kalonji. 
• As it tempers, add the sliced onions.
• Stir and add turmeric powder, salt and sugar.
• Saute for 2 minutes in medium-high flame.
• Now add the vegetable skin paste and start to stir fry it in medium flame for around 3-4 minutes.
• When it starts to thicken, lower the flame and let it cook till it starts to thicken more. 
• Keep stirring occasionally. The whole thing will slowly come together like dough.
• Remove from the flame and serve with hot steaming rice.

So simple, isn't? Do try and share with us.. You can thank me later ;)