Green papaya curry or peper dalna is a unique Bengali style curry made with raw papaya, potatoes, and red lentils fritter (masoor dal vada/bora). This amazingly delicious traditional curry is made with chunks of papaya that are cooked in whole and powdered spices. The uniqueness of this dish comes from the small red lentils fritters, called masoor daler bora in Bengali.
Ingredients
For The Curry1 medium raw papaya
2 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 dry red chilli
2 bay leaves
2 small stick cinnamon
1 medium onion thinly sliced
2-3 medium potatoes cut into cubes
½ inch ginger grated (or 1 teaspoon ginger paste)
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon garam masala
For Masoor Dal Vada½ cup masoor dal (red lentil)
2 green chilli
1 small onion finely chopped
Salt to taste
Oil for deep frying
Method
To Make Masoor Dal Vada- Soak masoor dal in water for one hour
- Once the dal is soaked, drain all the water and rinse in fresh water
- To this, add green chilli and grind it into a paste with very little water
- Transfer into a bowl and add finely chopped onion and salt
- Heat oil for deep frying
- Take small portion of the batter (approximately 2 tbsp) and carefully drop into oil. Add 5-6 vadas in one batch
- Fry until all the sides are golden
- Repeat with rest of batter and fry in batches
- Set aside.
To make The Papaya Curry- Wash and peel the raw papaya. Cut them into cubes
- Boil water in a large saucepan and add papaya
- Boil for 4-5 minutes
- Drain the water and set aside
- Heat oil in a frying pan or kadhai
- Add cumin seeds, dry red chilli, bay leaves, and
cinnamon. Saute for a few seconds
- Add onion and potatoes. Fry until the onions are golden
- Add ginger and saute for a few seconds
- Add cumin powder, chilli powder, and turmeric. Add ¼ cup water and mix well
- Cover and cook until the spices are completely cooked and the oil begins to release
- Add the parboiled papaya. Fry for 2-3 minutes
- Add 3 cups water and bring it to boil
- Cover and simmer until the papaya and potatoes are completely cooked
- Add the masoor dal vada and mix well
- Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes
- Add garam masala and mix well
- Serve hot.