Phulkopir Chal Ghonto - A medley of Potato and Cauliflower with aromatic rice

Phulkopir Ghonto with Gobindobhog rice is a traditional Bengali dish, very similar to famous "Murighonto" which is prepared with fish head and Gobindobhog rice (aromatic rice). This recipe is a vegan recipe with potato, cauliflower and Gobindobhog rice. My grandma used to cook this on those ritual days when non-veg dishes were not allowed. This recipe is from my childhood memory.

Preparation Time: - 15 min

Cooking Time: - 30 min

Servings: - 4 persons

Ingredients:-

1. 1 Medium size or ½ of a Large Cauliflower
2. 1 Large (about 200 gm.) Potato
3. 1 medium Onion
4. ¼ cup Gobindibhog / aromatic Basmati rice 1/4 cup
5. 1 tsp Ginger Paste
6. 1 tsp Bengali five spices ( Paanchforon) or Cumin seeds
7. 1 inch Cinnamon stick
8. 2~3 cloves
9. 2~3 Green Cardamom pods
10. 1 tsp Cumin Powder (Jeera)
11. 1 tsp Coriander powder
12. ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
13. 2 Bay Leaves
14. 2 Green Chili
15. 1 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli powder (you can use more according to your taste)
16. 1 tsp Garam Masala
17. 2 tsp Sugar
18. Handful of raisins
19. 2 tsp Ghee or clarified butter
20. Vegetable Oil as required (I use mustard oil as it is a traditional Bengali recipe but you can use any vegetable oil you like )
21. Salt to taste
22. Few chopped Coriander leaves for garnishing
    

Preparation-

1. Wash Cauliflower thoroughly with warm water.
   
2. Cut Cauliflower into medium size faucets. Chop onion.
3. Cut potato separately and keep both cauliflower and potato marinated with a pinch of salt and turmeric powder.
4. Take a non-sticky vessel/frying pan and heat oil sufficiently.
5. Shallow fry the potatoes until golden brown. Keep aside.
   
6. Shallow fry the cauliflower as well and keep aside.
   
7. Fry GobindoBhog / Basmati rice in the same oil for 3-4 minutes in low heat. Keep aside.
8. Use the same pan and add oil, heat it. When the oild is hot enough add whole Jeera/ Panchforon (Bengali five spices), Green /Red Chilli and bay leaves.
   
9. Add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. Saute for few seconds
   
10. Now add the chopped onion. Sauté for a minute and when it becomes translucent add ginger paste. You can make the paste from fresh ginger with the help of blender or can use the ready-made paste.
    
11. Add all the spice powders like coriander, turmeric, cumin and Kashmiri red chili powder.
12. Stir to mix well and add fried cauliflower florets, potato, fried rice with the spices. Mix well.
13. Pour a cup of water and cover with a lid. Let the rice cook well for 10~12 minutes approximately in low heat. Check and if it is not cooked well add some more water. Cook until the rice becomes soft in low heat. Stir carefully so that cauliflower do not break.
14. Now is the time to add peas and sprinkle raisins. Cook for 2~3 more minutes in low heat.
15. Add sugar.
16. Cook for 1 minute and add garam masala.
17. In the end add Ghee and after a few seconds you will smell a good aroma. Switch off the burner.  
18. Garnish with some coriander leaves and your yummy Phulkopir Ghonto is ready.

Serve as a side dish to almost any main dish like any plain / flavoured rice or even rotis. The aroma of this recipe will surely bowl you over.

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