Echorer Kalia: A Traditional Bengali Dish Worth Trying

Echorer Kalia recipe 

Echorer Kalia is a delicious curry made with highly nutritious raw jackfruit and potatoes, jackfruit is compared to mutton in local bengali language it is called "Gaach patha". The similarity is due to the taste of raw jackfruit and mutton, the spices used in this dish are reminiscent of those used in traditional bengali mutton curry.

To prepare echorer kalia the boiled jackfruit and potatoes are cooked in a onion garlic based spicy gravy which is flavoured with garam masala powder with the addition of tomatoes and curd helps create a rich and flavourful dish. The dish pairs perfectly with rice or chapathi.

Even without using onion and garlic this echor kalia recipe remains delightful, if you are curious to know about the recipe how to cut jackfruit check out my post today. Now let's start.

Ingredients needed for Echor kalia

▪︎ Jackfruit(echor)

▪︎ Potatoes

▪︎ 1 tomato pasted 

▪︎ Onion paste

▪︎ Green chilies, ginger and garlic pasted together

▪︎ masala paste( containing cinnamon, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and 3-4 cardamom), and then adding cumin and coriander powder and red chilli powder and mixing it with some water.

▪︎ 1tsp ghee 

▪︎ 1tsp salt 

▪︎ 1tbsp red chili powder 

▪︎ 1tsp coriander powder 

▪︎ 1tsp cumin powder 

▪︎ 1tsp turmeric powder 

▪︎ 1tsp sugar 

Ingredients needed for echor kalia

Pre preparation for echor kalia 

1. Cut the jackfruit by peeling the thick skin and remove the hard part from the middle and sides.

2. Soak the jackfruit pieces in turmeric water to get rid of the sap of the jackfruit.

3. Take a cooking pan and boil the jackfruit pieces with salt and turmeric and covering the pan.

Boiling the jackfruit pieces

Method of cooking echorer kalia 

1. Take a kadhai and heat some mustard oil and then fry the potatoes in the oil for some minutes with salt and turmeric powder. After frying take out the potatoes.

Frying potatoes with mustard oil

2. Add some mustard oil and when it is heated add two bay leaves and sugar, fry them with the oil.

Frying bay leaves and sugar in the oil

3. Add the onion paste and fry for some minutes until it is red in colour.

Frying the onions paste

4. After this add the green chillies, ginger and garlic paste and fry together for some minutes.

Adding green chilies, ginger and garlic paste

5. Add the tomato paste and fry nicely for some minutes so that the raw smell of the tomatoes go away.

Adding tomato paste

6. Add the masala prepared earlier and mix with the other ingredients nicely.

Adding the masala paste

7. Add some salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder and Kashmiri red chili powder, add some water and cook the masalas for some minutes until the masalas release their oil, cover the kadhai for some minutes.

Adding salt, turmeric, red chili powder

8. Open the cover after some minutes and you will see that the masalas are cooked; the spices have released their oil, now add the jackfruit pieces and cook with the masalas for some minutes.

Adding the boiled jackfruit pieces with the gravy

9. Add the fried potatoes and cook together with the other ingredients. After this add water and cover the kadhai for some minutes.

Adding the fried potatoes

Adding water

10. Now when the cover is opened you will see that the gravy is boiling and the potatoes and jackfruit has been boiled and became soft, now add ghee and mix in the gravy and let some water to get vaporised.

Adding ghee

The echor kalia recipe is now ready to be served..

Tips for Perfecting echorer kalia 

echor kalia

• Always cut the jackfruit perfectly by removing the skin and the solid part from the middle and sides, and soaking the pieces in turmeric water and also applying some oil in the hands to get rid of the sap.

• Boil the jackfruit pieces with salt and turmeric before preparing the recipe.

• fry the potatoes beforehand to use for the recipe.

• Use some ghee to enhance the flavour of the dish.

• add some sugar in the mustard oil with bay leaves to give the dish a good colour and taste.

Serving Suggestions for echor kalia 

echorer kalia

○ Serve the echor kalia as a side dish along with warm steaming rice, you can use any type of rice.

○ Serve echor kalia as a side dish along with roti, naan or normal paratha.

○ Serve the dish with some prepared salads and some green chilies.

○ This echor kalia recipe can be served with pulao or fried on occasions if you prefer vegetarian foods. 

○ Serve the echor kalia along with some fried papads for a good crunchy experience.

○ You can serve this dish along with deep fried luchi or poori for a good flavour and taste.

○ You can also serve with some raita on the top of the dish and enjoying this delicious jackfruit dish which is sure to impress you and your family.

Health benefits of echor kalia recipe 

1. Echor kalia is great for those who want to lessen their calories intake. Raw jackfruit is low in calories which makes it suitable for weight loss.

2. The dish helps regulate the blood sugar levels due to its high fiber content, it improves insulin sensitivity which is essential for managing diabetes.

3. Raw jackfruit helps control cholesterol levels as it contains soluble fibers which make it suitable for heart health.

4. Echor kalia is a good source of protein for the vegetarians, as it an excellent alternative to meat based dishes.

5. Raw jackfruit is good in vitamin C which helps to support the immune system and overall health.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the echor kalia is more than just a delicious dish; it is a celebration that brings a piece of bengali culinary excellence to your table. The recipe with its tender unripe jackfruit and the combination of the aromatic spices offering a unique and delightful experience that stands out in the vast range of Indian cuisine. Whether you are a seasoned cook or a curious food enthusiast, making this authentic dish is a journey worth taking. So embrace the adventure, indulge in the rich taste and let this traditional dish create a memorable feast for your senses.

More recipes from my blog 

• Bengali shukto recipe
• Village style chicken curry
  
• Rasmalai recipe
  
• Egg pulao recipe
  

FAQS 

What is echor kalia?

Echor kalia is a traditional bengali dish made with unripe jackfruit, commonly known as echor. It is a rich and spicy curry including potatoes and a variety of aromatic spices.

How do I prevent the jackfruit latex from sticking to my hands and knife while cutting?

To avoid the sticky latex apply a thin layer of oil to your hands and the knife before cutting the jackfruit and this will help in preventing the latex from sticking to the hands.

What special ingredient enhances the taste of Echor kalia?

While the recipe includes common spices, adding coconut milk is known to significantly enhance the flavor of the dish giving it a unique taste and creamy texture.

Can echor kalia can be made vegan?

Yes, echor kalia can be made a completely vegan dish by not using ghee and using plant-based alternatives for any dairy ingredients. For instance you can use almond yogurt or coconut milk as substitutes.

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