Lau Ghonto is a dry Bengali dish made with potatoes, bottle gourd, and traditional spices. It’s typically served with hot rice and dal during Durga Puja bhog celebrations. With its mild heat, sweet lau, and fragrant panch phoron, this dish embodies the heartfelt simplicity of vegetarian Bengali cuisine.
Ingredients
UNITSIngredients
600 gBottle gourd (lauki) (peeled and cubed)
1 largePotato (cubed)
½ cupMoong dal
1 tspGinger paste
2Green chilli (slit)
1Bay leaf
1 tspPanch phoron (Bengali five-spice mix)
½ tspTurmeric powder
½ tspRed chilli powder
1 tspSugar
2 tbspMustard oil
2 tbsp Fresh coriander leaves, (chopped)
½ tspGhee, (optional, for richness)
¼ cupGreen peas, (optional)
to tasteSalt
Follow
Directions
Description - Step 1
Step 1: Roast moong dal
To make the moong dal nutty and brown, dry roast it in a large pan over medium heat. This brings a festive bhog scent and more depth. Keep aside.
Description - Step 2
Step 2: Temper spices
Bring mustard oil to a smoking point. Reduce heat and include panch phoron and bay leaf. As they crackle, they will unleash their taste.
Description - Step 3
Step 3: Add vegetables
Add the potatoes, then for colour, add the chilli powder and turmeric. Stir in the salt as well as the cubes of bottle gourd, and then cook them until they begin to get tender.
Description - Step 4
Step 4: Simmer with dal
Toss in the roasted moong dal, sliced green chillies, ginger paste, and green peas, if using. After a thorough mixing, cover and simmer in the natural water of the lau.
Description - Step 5
Step 5: Finish and Serve
Add sugar and a sprinkle of ghee after the dal has cooked and the curry has reduced to a moist consistency. Finish with some fresh coriander leaves for garnish.