Kumro Patay Chingri Mach Bhape - Prawns steamed inside Pumpkin Leaves

This is a traditional bengali delicacy. My mother prepared for me this summer when I visited her. This delicacy is rarely cooked nowadays. For this recipe, you need a fresh Pumpkin leaves, which can only be found in your local fresh market, not in supermarkets.
In simpler version, this dish can be cooked in a steamer without the leaf, too. Nowadays, this version is made more often than with leaves. But the addition of green pumpkin leaves with prawns marinated with mustard and coconut give it a splendid flavour.

Ingredients :

Big or medium size prawn : 10-12 pieces
Pumpkin leaves : 2 big or 3-4 small ones (should be soft ones)
Freshly grated Coconut : 1/2 cup
Mustard seed : 2 tblsp.
Poppy seed : 1 tblsp.
Green Chilli : 2-3(accr. to your taste)
Salt to taste
Sugar : 1 tsp.
Turmeric : 1 tsp.
Mustard Oil : 3 tblsp.

Method :

• Clean and wash the prawns. Sprinkle some turmeric and salt, keep aside.
• Wash the leaves and in boiling water, dip them for couple of minutes. Remove and keep aside. Take care not to tear them.
• Soak mustard seed in little water for 10 minutes. Blend together mustard seed, poppy seed, green chillies and coconut and make a coarse paste. Add prawns in it and drizzle mustard oil in the paste, add salt and sugar, now mix everything together well.
• Now take a bowl which can fit in your pressure cooker, drizzle little mustard oil allover the bowl, now spread pumpkin leaves on it and place little amount of marinated prawn in it. Fold from all sides and cover with another leaf. 

 

• Place the bowl inside pressure cooker. Pour water until level of 1/2 of the bowl. When water start to boil, close the cooker lid without whistle. Steam for 12-15 minutes. 

Take out from the bowl carefully and serve steamed prawn with pumpkin leaves together with hot steamed rice......Enjoy the pungent flavour of mustard oil and mustard seed along with sweetness of pumpkin leaves and coconut. My mouth is watering writing about this delicious treat, thank you mom for preparing it for me. 

Sending this to Hot & SPicy Treats @ Food Corner