Soya kabuli

This is a recipe inspired by my aunt who made soya nuggets with vatana.

I was hungry in the morning and had no pre-soaked vatana which I usually use for making Bengali ghugni. However, my pantry had a can of chick peas. I got to work

Ingredients:
1 medium sized diced potato
1 cup soya nugget
1 can of chickpeas 28 oz or about 800 gm (Alternately you may soak chickpeas or yellow vatana overnight)
Minced onion- half of 1 large OR one full medium
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
Salt, turmeric, cooking oil, garam masala and ghee

Method:

1. Heat mustard oil in a pressure cooker. Add cumin seeds, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaves.
2. Add diced potato, minced onions, some soy nuggets (soaked in warm water until they are soft, then squeeze the excess water).
3. Add the chickpeas, salt, turmeric, cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala and ghee.
   (If you prefer to use onion paste to make the gravy thicker, stir fry the paste with potatoes. Make sure it is cooked thoroughly.)
4. Add 2-3 cups of warm water and boil on pressure or until soft.

You may serve it as a snack, or with poori.

Chal Potol (Pointed gourd with rice)

চাল পটল 

Ingredients: 
2 packets frozen parwal/potol/pointed gourd or about 15-20 fresh (cut in halves)

Pre soaked kalonji rice- about 1/4 cup
1 tbsp ginger paste
1/2 medium sized onion paste
Cumin powder
Garam masala
Ghee
Cooking oil

Optional:
Dry red chilies 2
panch phoron powder (a pinch)

Method:

1. Heat mustard oil. Temper with whole cumin, bay leaves and 2 red chilies (broken into halves).
2. Add onion-ginger paste, stir fry and add the pointed gourd (you may shallow fry them if you are using fresh vegetables)
3. Add pre-soaked kalonji rice to the vegetables. Add turmeric, salt, cumin powder, panch phoron powder (a pinch). Stir.
4. Slow cook till the water released by the vegetables dry off and the rice is cooked thoroughly but is not mushy. Add garam masala and ghee.