Trinidad Pumpkin Choka (Talkari)
22.5.16
| Recipe by Renz
An easy side dish made from pumpkin. Perfect to be eaten with rice or
roti
Please just go ahead and add this to your dinner plans tonight.
And you can just go ahead and make it for lunch too. This is going to be the best pumpkin side you will ever taste.
This is a steamed, kinda stewed, sauteed pumpkin.
It is so delicious, especially considering you don't do much to make it.
Popularly known as pumpkin choka or pumpkin talkari, is usually eaten with plain rice or saada roti.
And you can just go ahead and make it for lunch too. This is going to be the best pumpkin side you will ever taste.
This is a steamed, kinda stewed, sauteed pumpkin.
It is so delicious, especially considering you don't do much to make it.
Popularly known as pumpkin choka or pumpkin talkari, is usually eaten with plain rice or saada roti.
What to eat my choka with?
How do I love my talkari? Alongside some curry chicken and curry aloo.Sometimes I am very lucky to get a naturally sweet piece of pumpkin from the store. Sometimes tou get this watery tasting one.
The sweetness of the pumpkin with the salt makes a great combination of a little sweet and a little savory.
Majority of the times, at the supermarkets here, they only sell whole pumpkins. I then have to sit and struggle to cut it up myself.
I have no idea why pumpkin skin is so ridiculously hard for me to peel off.
Here are some tips for an easier cooking:
- Try to find cubed pumpkin. I get it at my farmers market. It's not peeled but def easier to get that skin off if you don't want to loose a finger.
- You do not have to cut the pumpkin up into small pieces. Just chunks will do. I think it gives a better texture. And you know I prefer a thicker texture just look at how I make my dhal.
- Really be careful of how much water you add in. You don't want too much water to start with. Add a little if by chance your pot starts sticking. Not even a 1/3 cup at a time. I actually add by tablespoons.
- Remember this is steaming. Not cooking. So have some patience with it. You might be a pot checker like me, ugh, have the patience to leave it to steam.
And once cubed, it's all about steaming and seasoning.
Make sure to keep your eye on the pot since you don't want all the liquid to dry up.
You want the pumpkin to have a little gravy, Remember I mentioned it is eaten with roti, so we want to have some sauce.
Talkari is really a great side, whether with roti or rice. Or macaroni pie.. or.. with some curry duck
The possibilities are endless.
Meatless Monday here I come!!
Want some other good pumpkin recipes?
Pumpkin Punch
Pelau (uses pumpkin)
Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Ponche De Creme
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