Patra/colocasia leaves with dry shrimp (চিংড়ি শুটকি দিয়ে কচু পাতা বাটা )

চিংড়ি শুটকি দিয়ে কচু পাতা বাটা

1. Wash the colocasia leaves and parboil them in water with salt and vinegar (vinegar lessens the itching by reacting with the calcium oxalate in the leaves). Blend to a puree.
2.  Wash dry shrimp in hot water, strain.
3. In a wok, heat mustard oil, add minced garlic and dry shrimp. Stir. Add the colocasia leaves puree and cook with frequent stirring. Add salt, turmeric, and red chili powder. Cook thoroughly till oil seperates

This is the first time I tried colocasia leaves and quite liked it. /nobody in my family eats the leaves. They just make' kochur saag' using the stalks. Gujratis steam and fry it into pinwheels called patra

Bonus recipe: Kochu baata (YouTube link from the BEngali Cooking show, Pancha Byenjon)