Sheet Kaal'er Sada Sobji - White Winter Veggies

Bengalis eat a lot of vegetables seasonally and winter is a big celebration of seasonal bounty. The markets in Kolkata come alive with a huge variety of produce ranging from new potatoes, deliciously tasty cauliflower, tomatoes, kohlrabi, radish, onion scapes, and lots more. It's not just the markets; every locality has its vegetable vendors setting up on street-sides and corners and there are vendors with 'vans' that cycle through the neighbourhoods calling out their wares, and they all offer the best of seasonal produce. It's like this all year round but my favourite is winter when, I feel, everything is a little more lush and delicious! 

This sheet kaal'er sada sobji is one of the best celebrations of winter produce. It's a simple preparation with hardly any spices where the vegetables do the work to make for something truly delicious. Pair it with hot phulkas or daal and rice and you will have a nutritious and tasty meal. 

Turnip

Kohlrabi

Radish

Bottle gourd

1 cup each, cubed, or less but in equal quantities. 

Green chillies 2-3

Nigella seeds 1/2 tsp

Mustard oil 1-2 tbsp

Sugar 1/2 tsp

Salt as required

Method

Heat the oil in a wok or kadai and chuck in the nigella seeds and a couple of green chilies split lengthwise. Once the seeds have sizzled add the cubed turnip first and sauté for a couple of minutes. Cook this recipe throughout on a medium flame. Cover the wok and let the turnips cook for a few minutes and then add the cubed kohlrabi. Once again sauté for a bit and then cover and cook for a few minutes. 

Follow the same process adding the radish cubes next and finally the bottle gourd. Take care not to brown the vegetables. Once all the veg is in the wok add salt, mix well, cover and cook on low heat till the all the veg is cooked through. It should all cook in its own moisture but if you feel the veggies are sticking add very little water. Sprinkle a bit of sugar and add a couple of green chilies, cover and cook for a further five minutes. 

You can also add cubed potatoes or even pumpkin to this dish if you like, it works very well. 

Serve with phulkas or as a side with daal chawal.