Chingri Potoler Dolma – A Classic Bengali Favourite to try this Jamai Sasthi

One of the important rituals of Bengali culture, Jamai Sasthi is dedicated to offering special treatment to the son-in-law with fruits and food. The mother-in-law prepares scrumptious delicacies to make this occasion memorable for the son-in-law. In fact, the entire family enjoys a get together of bonding over food and spirited conversations. Both the vegetarian and non-vegetarian spread boasts of lip-smacking dishes and Chingri Potoler Dolma is no exception to it.

What is Chingri potoler dolma?

A timeless Bengali delicacy, Chingri potoler dorma is prepared using fillings of prawns and potatoes with an array of other ingredients. Many people use a coconut milk-based gravy to cook this dish because it is believed to be the most delicious version of chingri potoler dolma. 

To prepare this delectable recipe, small prawns are sautéed with ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, chilli powder, fried onions, garam masala, mashed potatoes and other ingredients. Chopped raisins are sometimes added as well.

Origin of the dish

The word dolma comes from the word ‘dolmark’ in Turkish, which means ‘to be stuffed’.  

Chingri (shrimp) potoler dolma has emerged as a preferred variation for special occasions owing to its rich and robust flavour. As far as its origin is concerned, Chingri Potoler Dorma narrates an interesting story of migration. Immigrant Armenians who migrated to India to escape from Turkish persecution in the 16th century introduced Dorma to us. 

With time, their community began to spread and the trade took them to Calcutta. That’s how potoler dorma found its way to Bengali cuisine through cross-cultural communion. Bengalis continued to experiment with it adding unique twists to create a delicious dish. 

Print Recipe

CHINGRI POTOLER DORMA

Wondering how to cook this delicious non-vegetarian recipe using mustard oil? Take a look at this easy recipe to cook Potoler Dorma - the best recipe prepared using pointed gourd and prawns.

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Indian

Servings

Ingredients

Main ingredients:

• 10-12 whole parwal (pointed gourd) with pulp removed Do not discard the pulp
• 250 g Licious Freshwater prawns chopped coarsely

For filling (Grind all the filling ingredients together to make a paste for the gravy):

• 2 tsp Mustard Oil
• 1 Chopped Onion
• Parwal pulp
• 2 whole green chillies
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 inch ginger

Other ingredients:

• 2 tbsp Mustard Oil
• 2 cardamom pods
• ½ inch cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1 tsp Cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 large onion chopped
• 3 tbsp Tomato paste
• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric

Poppy Seed and cashew paste (Grind these ingredients with 100 ml of water):

• 3 green chillies
• 50 g cashews whole or broken
• Pinch of salt
• 30 g poppy seeds

• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric
• Poppy Seed and cashew paste
• 3 green chillies
• 50 g cashews whole or broken
• Pinch of salt
• 30 g poppy seeds
• ml Grind these ingredients with 100of water.

Course Main Dish Cuisine Indian Servings Ingredients Main ingredients: 10-12 whole parwal (pointed gourd) with pulp removed Do not discard the pulp 250 g Licious Freshwater prawns chopped coarsely For filling (Grind all the filling ingredients together to make a paste for the gravy): 2 tsp Mustard Oil 1 Chopped Onion Parwal pulp 2 whole green chillies 4 garlic cloves 1 inch ginger Other ingredients: 2 tbsp Mustard Oil 2 cardamom pods ½ inch cinnamon stick 4 cloves 1 tsp Cumin seeds 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste 1 large onion chopped 3 tbsp Tomato paste 1 tsp Cumin Powder 1 tsp coriander powder 1 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp turmeric Poppy Seed and cashew paste (Grind these ingredients with 100 ml of water): 3 green chillies 50 g cashews whole or broken Pinch of salt 30 g poppy seeds 1 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp turmeric Poppy Seed and cashew paste 3 green chillies 50 g cashews whole or broken Pinch of salt 30 g poppy seeds ml Grind these ingredients with 100of water.

Instructions

For the stuffing:

1. Heat 2 tbsp mustard oil in a clean pan on medium flame.
2. Add the chopped onions and cook them until they turn translucent.
3. Add cumin, coriander powder and turmeric powder and stir the mixture for 1 minute.
4. Add the coarsely chopped Licious prawns and add salt.
5. Now take a pan and add the pulp paste of parwal. Stir it for 3-4 minutes, ensuring the prawns are not overcooked by stirring continuously.
6. Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes.
7. Wash the pointed gourds (parwal) after scraping off the skin.
8. Stuff the hollow parwal with this filling.
9. Heat ¼ cup of mustard oil in a deep frying pan. Fry the parwal until they turn brown. Remove and then keep them aside.

For the gravy:

1. Heat 1 tbsp of mustard oil in a pan on a high flame.
2. Add the whole spices - cardamom pods, cumin seeds, cinnamon and cloves and cook until fragrant.
3. Add the onions and keep stirring them until turned golden brown.
4. Add 2 tbsp of tomato puree and stir.
5. Add the cashew and poppy seeds paste and stir continuously for a few minutes.
6. Add the garam masala when the oil separates and again stir.
7. After a few minutes, add the remaining spices on medium heat and stir continuously.
8. Finally, it is time to add parwal and cook them for an additional 5 minutes.
9. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Recipe Notes

Looking for Prawns near me? At Licious, you can find a great variety of freshwater and seawater prawn cuts, thoroughly cleaned and deveined. Right from larger tiger prawns to sea white prawns, from pink shrimp to witch shrimp, all our prawn varieties are fresh, never frozen. Also, Licious prawns are free from added chemicals. If you order prawns online from Licious, you will get them delivered to your doorstep. So, order your prawns today and make this delicious Potoler Dorma Prawns recipe. Do not forget to tag us on Instagram with #MadeWithLicious and share your version of this dish. Order Now.