Mochar Ghonto

Mochar Ghonto - a typical Bengali preparation of banana flowers, is quite a delicacy. This delicious vegetarian preparation which can be enjoyed with rice / roti / puri alike is also used as a filling for a lip smacking snack - mochar chop.
Ingredients:
4 banana flowers
400 g small raw potatoes, diced
50 g Bengal gram, soaked
12 dried dumplings of urad dal ( vari called daler bori in Bengali )
3 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
3 teaspoon ginger paste
2 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
2 teaspoon sugar
Oil for frying potatoes and daler vari
1/2 cup water

For tempering:
1/4 teaspoon jeera ( cumin seeds )
4 tablespoon mustard oil

Preparation:
Take out the yellow coloured inner flowers discarding the stem inside it. Chop the flowers finely. Soak in turmeric water for about 5 - 6 hours.
Fry the dried dumplings of urad dal in hot mustard oil. Fry the diced potatoes till golden brown. Keep them separately.
Before cooking, boil the flower in salted water. When fully cooked, press and drain till the flower is free from any moisture. Mix with ginger, cumin powder and red chilli powder.
Heat mustard oil in a wide kadai. Add cumin seeds and bay leaves. Add the flower mixture and fried potatoes. Pour half cup water, adjust salt and simmer.
When the moisture dries up add the garam masala powder.
Garnish with soaked Bengal gram and fried dumplings of urad dal.