Shukto Recipe – A light Stew of Summer Veggies

Unlike me, Shukto is not an everyday affair in Gungun’s life. I grew up eating shukto in some shape and form practically every single day of my life. But I grew up in India in the pre-internet, per-cellphone era. So her life is expectedly quite different than what was mine at her age. But even then we are so similar.

Shukto Recipe

G being 13 yrs old now, I realize a lot of things now, which I did not realize earlier. I feel somewhere I am exactly a photocopy of Maa, my mom. Maa and Baba had this immense faith and confidence in me that I will never do anything wrong. Just that confidence ended up influencing my life’s decisions most of the times. I pushed myself harder so that I did not fail them but if I failed (which I did countless times) I had two loving shoulders to cry on and scout every inch of me to find the courage necessary to get up and put up a fight again.

I think I have a similar confidence in Gungun now. Something which makes me feel she will do what is best not only for her but for all of us. And today was another validation of my thought. We enrolled G for a speech and debate summer camp at a high school we are considering for her after middle school. And last time when we went for a preview of this school, things were a little overwhelming both for G and us. The high school environment is very different from the protective, middle school environment that she is in now. So she was very reluctant to go back to the summer camp at this school. She told me several times that she did not want to go to this camp.

Last night when she went to bed I had a talk with her. I told her that if she did not go, in her heart she would know she chickened out. She is afraid of being uncomfortable, that if she does not put her chin up and face it, how will she ever grow. And she has her dreams, which needs a lot of courage on her part to achieve.

This morning when we entered the school campus, that very moment, I felt I heard her taking a deep breath. She told me, “Mom you leave, I will find my way”. I insisted on accompanying her to the classroom. And the gait and demeanor with which she entered the classroom; I knew she will give her best no matter what.

And when I went to pick her up, there she was just bubbling over to share her experience of the day. She loved it and even told us the feedback she received from the moderators. In fact, she came home and got to her research to prepare for tomorrow. I feel that it was a very small thing today, but I know that my daughter will never quit without trying.

So again please forgive me to somehow digressing and sharing a parenting experience with you instead of talking about the shukto but then shukto or no shukto, G’s upbringing is no different than mine, somewhere I knew that today.

Coming to the shukto, it is said to have a Portuguese origin. It’s the dish that a traditional Bengali 7-8 course meal is started with. It is a palate cleanser and has a subtlety to it, which can be best, experienced and enjoyed in a communal setting sharing a meal with others. Shukto is actually a very communal dish also as it includes tons of veggies and how much ever you try, it’s hard to cook a small portion. Mellow on the palate, the usage of bitter gourd in it wakes up your palate to all the different tastes to be enjoyed as the meal would follow. It is very light on the stomach and is preferred in summer months when the mercury would be spiking mercilessly.

Today shukto happens quite rarely and also when I have the time to cut the multiple veggies but when it happens it takes me back right to my childhood. I don’t know if G will ever cook shukto but this memoir may someday have her try it.

Along with Shukto Recipe, You may also like the following recipes:

• Macher Jhol – Classic Bengali Fish Stew ^[2]
• Dimer Pulao- Bengali Egg Pilaf ^[3]
• The Bengali Egg Curry ^[4]

 

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