Til Kumro – Bengali Pumpkin Stir Fry With Sesame Seeds

Til Kumro or Pumpkin with sesame seeds is stir-fried pumpkin with toasted sesame seeds spiced up by red chillies and bright with freshly picked curry leaves. If you like pumpkin as much as I do, check out this super easy and savoury Indian pumpkin dish.

Pumpkin stir fry with toasted sesame seeds (til) as topping gives this dish something extra. You’ll definitely relish the flavour of this Bengali kumro recipe. It’s a healthier alternative to potatoes and quite filling due to dietary fiber.

Pumpkin Health Benefits:

The nutritious orange vegetable has many health properties – it’s low in calories but rich in vitamins and minerals. It’s a good source of beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant that gives pumpkin its distinctive colour. Beta-carotene gets converted to vitamin A in our body once it’s consumed. Eating foods rich in beta-carotene helps protect against certain types of cancer, heart disease, asthma and delays aging. Vitamin A helps improve eyesight. So make sure you incorporate pumpkin into your diet.

Til Kumro Recipe:

Til Kumro, a mouthwatering Bengali pumpkin stir fry with sesame seeds, is a dish that perfectly embodies the rich culinary traditions of West Bengal. This simple yet flavorful recipe combines the natural sweetness of pumpkin with the nutty aroma of sesame seeds, creating a harmonious blend of tastes and textures.

Kumro or pumpkin is a staple vegetable in the Bengali kitchen. Bengalis relish not just pumpkin but also pumpkin flowers (kumro phool) and the fresh tender leaves (kumro saag).

Bengali Til Kumro Tarkari is a sweet and spicy pumpkin dish flavoured with grated ginger, aromatic curry leaves, chillies and crunchy sesame seeds. Til kumror torkari made with simple ingredients is the perfect side dish to go with rice and lentils.

• Firstly, wash and peel the pumpkin with a sharp knife. Cut into small cubes. Keep aside.

• Heat a frying pan and dry roast the sesame seeds to a light brown. Remove into a bowl and keep aside.

• Put the pan back on the stove and heat oil. Add mustard seeds, curry leaves, dry red chillies and asafoetida. Sauté for a few seconds.

• Add the ginger paste and sauté for 1/2 a minute for the raw smell to go.
• Toss in the pumpkin cubes and mix well with tempering.

• Add turmeric powder, salt and sugar. Combine all the ingredients together and cook covered on low-medium heat for about 10 minutes. Check the seasoning.

• Keep stirring every now and then to ensure the pumpkin pieces don’t burn.

• Once the pumpkin cubes are cooked through, sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on top.

• Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish.

• Serve Til Kumro with hot rice and masur dal.

If you are searching for more toasted sesame seeds recipes, then do try out Roasted Sesame Pilaf Recipe.

Til Kumro Serving Suggestions:

• Steamed rice
• Roti or paratha
• As a side dish with dal and rice

Til Kumro Variations

While the traditional Til Kumro recipe is delicious on its own, you can experiment with these variations:

• Add Protein: Include some lentils or chickpeas to make the dish more filling and protein-rich.
• Spice it Up: For a spicier version, add red chili powder or increase the number of green chilies.
• Vegetable Medley: Incorporate other vegetables like carrots or sweet potatoes for added nutrition and texture.

Pumpkin With Sesame Seeds Recipe details below: