Rugra Curry

Rugra Curry

Rugra Curry

Veg Vegan

Wild forest mushrooms (rugra) foraged during the monsoon from Jharkhand's sal and mahua forests, cooked with mustard oil, onion, green chillies, and turmeric in a simple, earthy preparation. Rugra is prized by tribal communities for its dense, meaty texture and intensely savoury flavour; when cooked it darkens and contracts, releasing a deep umami into the cooking liquid.

Cuisines

Jharkhand

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 30 min Total: 45 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

200 grams rugra mushrooms
1 tablespoon mustard oil
1 teaspoon panch phoron
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
1 medium tomato, chopped
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon coriander powder
1 cup water
salt to taste
1 handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. 1 Clean the rugra mushrooms thoroughly under running water to remove any dirt.
  2. 2 Heat mustard oil in a pan until it starts to smoke, then reduce the heat.
  3. 3 Add panch phoron to the oil and let it splutter for a few seconds.
  4. 4 Add the chopped onion to the pan and sauté until it turns golden brown.
  5. 5 Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
  6. 6 Add the chopped tomato and cook until it softens and blends with the onion mixture.
  7. 7 Mix in the turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder, stirring well.
  8. 8 Add the cleaned rugra mushrooms to the pan and stir to coat them with the spices.
  9. 9 Pour in the water, add salt to taste, and bring the mixture to a boil.
  10. 10 Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover the pan, and let it cook for 15-20 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.
  11. 11 Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.

Tips

Ensure the rugra mushrooms are thoroughly cleaned as they can have a lot of dirt. Adjust the spice levels to your preference.