Bandhakopir Chechki is the simplest form of a Bengali cabbage stirfry recipe. Here finely sliced bandhakopi (cabbage in English or pattagobhi in Hindi) is allowed to steam cook in its own juice till it looses some of its texture and becomes soft and much flavorful. Often served for breakfast, this bandhakopi recipe in Bengali style pairs superb with Bengali luchis or paranthas.
This Bandhakopir Tarkari is a classic example of the simplicity of Bengali niramish ranna or vegetarian recipes where vegetables play the star of the dish and gives us a simple and healthy meal.
For this Bandhakopi recipe in Bengali style, you don’t need much either time, energy or ingredients. Chop, dump and let it cook in its own juices. Owing to its simplicity, this bandhakopi recipe is often served for the traditional Bengali breakfast menu with luchis.
Breakfasts are often an important meal in a Bengali household. It packs a punch in a form of carbohydrate rich meal which helps sail through the day easily. Inclusion of vegetables like cabbage or bandhakopi means fortifying the meal with additional nutrients.
That means figuring out simple and easy recipes that can be made quickly for the entire family, which would often mean feeding a big family of over a dozen members. So, there is always a need for economical recipes which would provide ample nutrition to one and all.
What is a chechki?
Basically, chechki is a distinctive cooking style of Bengali vegetarian dishes. Here vegetables are cut in batons and then cooked in their own juices with a simple tempering of hing-kalo jeere-kancha lonka, i.e. asafoetida, cumin seeds and green chillies.
Another distinctive aspect of this kind of chechki recipes is that usually they are cooked without using any turmeric, hence they are whitish in their appearance.
There is also inclusion of potatoes in the chechki recipe which helps in adding bulk to the dish.
Here I would also like to mention that none of these are an absolute hard and fast rule. Many families have their own ways of making these vegetarian tarkari recipes, and all of them are perfect in their own ways.
This Bandhakopir Chechki Tarkari recipe is perfect for those:
- who are looking for classic tarkari bandhakopir recipe in Bengali style for a traditional Bengali vegetarian menu
- this Bengali bandhakopi recipe is perfect for those who are looking for vegan and gluten-free cabbage recipe
- who are looking for one-pot simple recipes
- this cabbage stirfry is perfect for cooking newbies like students, bachelors, working professionals , etc. who are venturing into cooking for the first time
- who are looking for side dish ideas with Bengali luchis or paranthas
How to make Bandhakopir Chechki – Ingredients list
- Cabbage or Bandhakopi or Pattagobhi
- Potato – cut into cubes
- Hing or Asafoetida
- Kalo Jeera or Nigella Seeds
- Green Chilies
- Ginger
- Mustard Oil
- Salt
- Sugar
How to make the Bandhakopir Chechki tarkari?
- To make this bandhakopir chechki tarkari, simply heat some oil in a pan and temper it with hing (asafoetida), nigella seeds or kalo jeere and green chillies.
- As the seeds splutter, add the potato cut in cubes and shredded cabbage. Grate the ginger in the pot and give everything a mix.
- Now cover the pot and let it cook in its own steam and juice on low heat. Cabbage leaves will release a lot of water which will help cook the potato. Give it a gentle occasional stir.
- Once you see that the potato has cooked perfectly, remove the lid. Allow the excess water to dry up. Once done, turn off the heat and serve.
How to serve Bandhakopir Chechki Tarkari?
This bandhakopir tarkari pairs so well with Bengali Luchis as well as Paranthas. However, you can also make this a side dish to a Bengali vegetarian lunch meal by serving it with rice and dal.
A couple of chechki recipes from my Blog:
- Phulkopir Chechki | Aloo Phulkopir Tarkari Recipe
- Kumro Chechki or Bengali Pumpkin Stir-Fry Recipe
- Aloo Chorchori | Bengali Potato Stew Recipe (although it is called a chorchori, it is made in the line of chechki tarkari recipe)
If you are looking for another Bandhakopi recipe or Bengali Cabbage recipe, then you can try the classic bandhakopir dalna from my blog. It is tangy, spicy and absolutely delicious!
Have you tried this recipe? I would love to hear about it.
Tag me on Instagram @priyankabhattacharya.sa or Facebook @hashdiaries and I will share it further.
Bandhakopi Chechki is the simplest form of a Bengali cabbage stirfry recipe, where finely sliced bandhakopi (cabbage in English or pattagobhi in Hindi) is allowed to steam cook in its own juice till it looses some of its texture and becomes soft and much flavorful. Often served for breakfast, this bandhakopi recipe in Bengali style pairs superb with Bengali luchis or paranthas.
- ½ Cabbage approx 250gms in weight – finely shredded
- 1 Potato cut in cubes
- A pinch of Hing or Asafoetida
- ¼ tsp Nigella Seeds or Kalo Jeera or Kalonji
- 2 Green Chilies
- 1 inch Ginger
- 2 tbsp Mustard Oil
- Salt to Taste
- 1 tsp Sugar
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To make this bandhakopir chechki tarkari, simply heat some oil in a pan and temper it with hing (asafoetida), nigella seeds or kalo jeere and green chillies.
-
As the seeds splutter, add the potato cut in cubes and shredded cabbage. Grate the ginger in the pot and give everything a mix.
-
Now cover the pot and let it cook in its own steam and juice on low heat. Cabbage leaves will release a lot of water which will help cook the potato. Give it a gentle occasional stir.
-
Once you see that the potato has cooked perfectly, remove the lid. Allow the excess water to dry up. Once done, turn off the heat and serve.
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