Tripura Chakhwi Seasonal Vegetable Herb Boiled Healing Stew

Method

1. 1

   Cut all vegetables into roughly equal 3 cm pieces.

2. 2

   Cut harder vegetables (raw papaya, pumpkin) slightly smaller as they take longer to cook.

3. 3

   Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a pot. Add sliced ginger, crushed garlic, whole green chillies and turmeric.

4. 4

   Add the harder vegetables first — raw papaya, pumpkin, banana flower. Boil on medium heat 5 minutes.

5. 5

   Add the remaining vegetables. Cook 8 to 10 minutes until all vegetables are completely tender.

6. 6

   Add 1 tbsp mustard oil directly to the finished stew and stir.

7. 7

   In Tripuri cooking, mustard oil is often added raw at the end as a finishing element rather than a cooking medium — this preserves its characteristic pungent note.

8. 8

   Season with salt. The broth should be thin, clear and fragrant from ginger and garlic.

9. 9

   Add fresh herbs. Stir. Serve in bowls alongside steamed rice.