Jhinge Posto – Bengali Ridge Gourd With Poppy Seeds Paste | Turai Posto

Jhinge Posto made with ridge gourd and poppy seeds paste is a Bengali niramish ranna recipe. A traditional dish in most Bengali households, ridge gourd posto is a vegetarian preparation that goes well with Biulir dal.

In Bengali, ridge gourd is called Jhinge and sounds quite similar to the Hindi word Jhinga, meaning prawns. Well this dark green ridged vegetable with white flesh and seeds is no way close to those swimming crustaceans.

The dark green vegetable goes by different names – Luffa, Chinese Okra and Sponge Gourd. The vegetable when fully ripened, becomes fibrous. The dried vegetable can then be used as a loofah or sponge.

A member of the cucumber family, ridged gourd has high moisture content and low saturated fats. The succulent, juicy gourd is a rich source of dietary fibre and serves as an excellent weight loss food.

Jhinge or Turai (Hindi) is cooked in posto or poppy seed paste (khuskhus in Hindi) and it’s normally served as a dry accompaniment with rice and curries. Turai cooked with khuskhus paste pairs well with plain rice or chapatti.

Bengali Jhinge Posto Recipe Step By Step:

Anything cooked with posto (poppy seeds) takes on a different dimension. You can cook most vegetables with posto bata. Posto with ridge gourd is an irresistible combination. The poppy seeds give a rich creamy texture to the turai sabzi

• To make Bengali Ridge Gourd Posto, firstly soak poppy seeds in warm water for 15 minutes. Then grind the poppy seeds to a smooth paste with green chilli and very little water. Keep aside.

• Next, wash, peel and cut the ridge gourd into ¼ inch pieces.

• Heat oil in a frying pan. Add the onion seeds and allow to splutter.
• Then add the ridge gourd pieces and sauté for a couple of minutes on medium heat.

• Next add turmeric powder and salt and combine well.

• Cook the ridge gourd till all the water evaporates.

• Add the posto paste and simmer for 1-2 minutes.

• Finally, mix in some mustard oil and remove the ridge gourd posto.

• Serve Bengali Jhinge Posto with steamed rice and dal.

If you are looking for more ridge gourd/posto recipes, do try out Beerakaya Kobbari and Posto Bora.

Turai Posto Recipe details below: