Phulkopir Posto (Cauliflower with Poppy Seeds)

Posto - Poppy seed (khas khas) is not just used as a spice but is also used in considerable amount to create main dishes in Bengal. It is particularly popular in the districts of Burdwan, Bankura, and Birbhum. The most common preparation is with potato (Alu Posto). It is generally accompanied with Biuli or Kalai (both are Bengali names for Urad daal) daal. It is traditionally eaten with rice.


Ingredients

• Cauliflower (~ 1 kg)
• Poppy seeds (~200 - 400 gms)
• Onion seed/Black cumin (Kalonji, kala jira) 1/2 - 1 tablespoon
• Oil 3 - 6 tablespoon (To be hundred percent Bengali we need mustard oil. However, any other oil will do except may be ground nut oil)
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Cauliflower

Cut the cauliflower in small pieces (about 1 - 1.5 inches; it is best if you break the stem in order to keep the flower part intact instead of cutting through them and creating flat edges)

Poppy seeds

We need to make a paste of poppy seeds. This can be done various ways.

1. Old fashioned stone grinder
Soak the poppy seeds in water and then grind the standard way

2. Use the small container of a regular mixer
Fill the container as per specification, add some water and then use the high setting

3. Use a coffee grinder
Put dry seeds in the grinder then grind until the paste feels oily, then put the ground seeds in a bowl and mix water to make a paste

The paste should not be "too" smooth; when you squeeze it you should feel some seeds at your finger tips. Also make sure it is not very watery.

Cooking

• Pour the oil in the cooking pot.
• Heat the oil (if it is mustard oil then you have to heat it until the foamy bubbles go away
• Put the Kalonji in (you may want to cover at this point as the kalonji tends to jump around)
• Once the kalonji is fried put the cauliflowers in
• Sprinkle salt on the cauliflower
• Saute the cauliflowers until they are half cooked
• Pour in the poppy seed paste
• Mix thoroughly
• Saute for 10 minutes
• Pour water so that the cauliflowers are submerged
• Cook until cauliflower is soft to your liking and/or the water has evaporated (If you move the cauliflower to the side creating an empty space in the middle of the cooking pot then there should be no water in the middle)

Variations

This can be cooked various other vegetables notably with Zucchini and Eggplant. You may try your favourite vegetable, however, it does not workout well with sweet vegetables such as pumpkin, sweet potato etc., but you are free to try it yourself