Cheat's Hutki Shira/Bengali Fish and Veg Soup

Hutki shira is a Bangladeshi dish made from dried, salted fish and vegetables, and it is very saucy which is why i compare it to a soup or a chowder. Due to Bangladesh having an abundance of fish, this dish can truly be classed as a Bangladeshi speciality.

As it has a strong, fishy smell, it is slightly like marmite, some people hate it or some love it. Of course, i adore it and so i thought to include it in my blog.

Now hutki or shutki as it is known in Shuddho Bangla, can be daunting for first timers to use in cooking, so i have thought to do this recipe in cheat form - using a short cut. Available in many Bangladeshi food stores are ready made hutki chutney jars, which are eaten as is with rice. However, i tried it once as a replacement to fresh hutki in hutki shira when i had none at home, and now use it when i have a hutki craving and have none available.

Now obviously, this will not be as fishy or as tasty as when using fresh hutki, but it fills that craving, in my humble opinion.

This is my recipe, and for it you will need:

1 tbsp oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, blended
4 green chillies
Salt to taste
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 large sweet potato, cubed
2 medium potatoes, cubed
1/2 cup jackfruit seeds /khatolor bisi
1/2 cup kochur loti/lota
1 bag peeled and cooked prawns
1 bunch spinach, cut into large pieces including stalks
1/2 jar Naz Deshi Naga Shutki Chatney
Green chillies to garnish

In a large saucepan, pour in oil, then add garlic and brown. Add in your blended onions, chillies, salt, turmeric and chilli powder and cook on a low flame for about 5 minutes.

To this add your veg that will take longest to cook, in this case sweet potato, potatoes, jackfruit seeds and kochur loti. Cover and cook for about 10 - 15 minutes, adding water if sticking to bottom.

After 15 minutes, add your prawns and spinach, your shutki chatney and stir. Check for salt, adding more if needed. Pour enough boiling water in to cover the veg and prawns, plus a little more. Stir well again. Cover and cook on a low heat for about 20 minutes. Take off heat and garnish with the chillies.

And there you are! Cheat's hutki shira, just fishy enough to give you your hit. You can substitute my veggies for any you like, you can add more veg, or include fish if you want. Add the fish in at the point i've put prawns in. My mum adds tinned sardines, which taste absolutely sublime. Eat it with rice but if you're on an Atkin's diet, just take out your potatoes and eat it as a soup. Such a versatile dish.

Hope you enjoy!

Yaz ♥