Lau Patae Mochar Paturi / Banana Florets Steam-Cooked Enveloped in Bottle-Gourd-Greens By Bibi Sarkar
Paturi is a delicacy that needs patience to be made perfect. Paturi is nothing but steam cooking, enveloped in a leafy green of your choice. You shall be amazed at the number of delectable fares that are made this way — most regions in India have some delicacies cooked this way. This is a vegetarian paturi that is best served with steamed rice.
Bibi Sarkar started out as a restaurateur showcasing global cuisine to the Kolkata palate in 1986. Three decades down the line her repertoire also includes cuisine from across the country. The first in the city to do food Pop Ups, she keeps herself busy with her cookery workshops, home deliveries, catering and of course her pop ups.
Ingredients:
- Banana Flowers (Mocha)
- Salt
- Turmeric
- Mustard Oil
- Kaalo Jeerey/ Kala Jeera/ Kalonji seeds
- Coconut (grated)
- Green Chillies
- Mustard Paste
- Coriander Leaves/ Cilantro/ Dhania Pata
- Bottle-Gourd-Greens/ Lau Pata
Method:
- Cut and pressure cook banana-flowers (mocha) with salt and turmeric. Remember to discard the pistils before cutting the flowers.
- After boiling squeeze out the water from the mocha as much as possible.
- In a karai add mustard oil and temper with kalajeera.
- Add cooked mocha, to it add a paste of coconut, green chilli, mustard paste, dhania pata all ground together.
- Add salt to taste. Fry well till oil separates.
- Wash and dry Lau pata.
- Put mocha mixture in the middle and tap down to a rectangular shape. Fold over the leaf to cover.
- In a flat pan or tawa drizzle some mustard oil.
- Heat well and place the mocha packet folded side down. Once sealed, and fried, flip over and cook other side.
- Once browned serve with hot rice. Eat the entire packets, including the leaf!