Chaal Kopi Recipe – Bengali Style Cauliflower Stir Fry

Chaal Kopi is stir fried cauliflower florets cooked with basmati or gobindobhog rice along with tomatoes and masalas like cumin powder, coriander powder and garam masalas which makes this dish highly flavourful and absolutely finger licking good. This Bengali delicacy though not very popular dish but it’s common in some households.  Cashew nuts, Sultana Raisins, Cauliflower (gobi), Basmati rice, Cumin seeds (Jeera), Bay leaf (tej patta), Cardamom (Elaichi) Pods/Seeds, Cloves (Laung), Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini), Ginger, Garam masala powder, Turmeric powder (Haldi), Tomatoes, Green Chillies, Cumin powder (Jeera), Coriander Powder (Dhania), Green peas (Matar), Sugar, Salt, Water   as required for cooking 1/4 cup Cashew nuts 1/4 cup Sultana Raisins 1 Cauliflower (gobi) , cut into florets 1/4 cup Basmati rice , or govind bhog rice 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera) 1 Bay leaf (tej patta) 3 Cardamom (Elaichi) Pods/Seeds 5 Cloves (Laung) 1 inch Cinnamon Stick (Dalchini) 2 inch Ginger , finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon Garam masala powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi) 2 Tomatoes , finely chopped 2 Green Chillies , slit 1 teaspoon Cumin powder (Jeera) 2 teaspoons Coriander Powder (Dhania) 1/4 cup Green peas (Matar) 1 teaspoon Sugar Salt , to taste 1/2 cup Water , for cooking rice     15   30     To begin making Chaal Kopi Recipe -Bengali Style Cauliflower Stir Fry, heat mustard oil in a Kadai and lightly roast the cashew nuts and raisins till the cashew nuts turn golden brown in colour and the raisins puff up. Keep them aside.To the same pan, add cauliflower florets and stir fry them with little salt and 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder. Sprinkle water and cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.Take them out once the cauliflower is cooked and roasted. Keep aside once done.In a heated pan add mustard oil and once it’s heated, add cumin seeds, bay leaf, whole cardamom, clove and cinnamon sticks. Roast until you smell the aromas of the whole spices. at this stage add ginger and green chilies. Saute them for a few seconds.  Now add the drained basmati rice to the pan and saute for about 3 to 4 minute until the rice turns crisp.Once the rice has turned slightly crisp, add the tomatoes, cumin powder, coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, sugar and salt. Saute them for about 2-3 minutes.Add water. Cover and cook till the rice is fluffy and fully cooked.At this stage, when the rice is cooked and fluffy and all the water has been absorbed; add the cauliflower, the peas, garam masala and stir. Saute until the Chaal Kopi is well combined with the rice and the masalas. Check the taste, adjust the salt accordingly.Once combined, add the cashew nuts and raisins and transfer the Chaal Kopi in a serving bowl and serve hot.Serve Chaal Kopi Recipe (Bengali Style Cauliflower Stir Fry) along with Bengali Luchi or Steamed Rice and Bengali Style Lau Die Tetor Dal for a lunch meal, along with sliced fresh Vegetable Salad.