Doi Potol (pointed Gourd Cooked In Curd Based Gravy)

Doi potol is a ¬¬traditional Bengali vegetarian side dish. Although Bengali cuisine is known for different preparations of Fish and other seafood but there are particular occasions, when they eat only vegetarian food for example during ‘ Pous Puja’ or on ‘Ashtami’, a day when they offer ‘ Anjali’ to ‘Goddess Durga’. Doi Potol is one of the most preferred option for vegetarian side dish. It is a typical Bengali sweet and sour recipe. My own memories of this recipe remind me of my summer holidays, when I used to go to my Aunt’s place at Shantiniketan. My Aunt’s landlady was widow and in those days, eating non vegetarian food and onion and garlic was a taboo for widow and thus she used to cook their food separately sans any onion and garlic. I was quite attached to her and I used to share her food. Doi patol was one of the recipes which I used to like very much. Although her version did not include any onion and garlic and the curry used to be a mix of cumin, ginger, red chili and curd but when I make it at home now, I add onion and garlic to enhance the taste.