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“Choddo” means fourteen and “shak” means leafy vegetables in Bengali. Yes, as the name choddo shak suggest this recipe is about making a dish with 14 types of greens. 

I still remember my grandfather used to bring “choddo shak” on “bhoot chaturdashi”- the night before Kalipujo/ diwali. The ritual didn’t end there, we used to lit “choddo prodeep”- fourteen diya (lamp) after sunset. The aim was to keep light in every dark corner of the house. Why? I never asked. Maybe back then I was more excited about firecrackers afterward. Well, it’s never too late. Today, as my grandparents are no more so I seek help from uncle google to know “why”. The answer that I received is pretty much what I was guessing.

choddo shak 1

Why choddo shak? 

All of us avoid green leafy vegetables during monsoon for obvious reasons – 

  • cleaning greens is a daunting task as the muddy water, constant rainfall, extreme humidity enhance the chances of insects, worm infestation
  • most of us suffer from poor digestion

Green leafy vegetables contain great nutritional as well as medicinal properties. So after a long wait when the season starts changing from rain to winter, it’s time to bring your greens back to the plate to boost immunity and tackle winter diseases.

The same concept has been translated as per the ancient script “Charaka Samhita” in an interesting way. It says that Kartik mash (the Bengali pre-winter month) is the time when Yamraj (the god of death) becomes powerful and all the eight gates to his kingdom are open.

To protect ourselves on “bhoot chaturdashi” two rituals have been prescribed – 

  • eating “choddo shak” to boost immunity and,
  • lighting “choddo pradeep” for 14 ancestors to protect from the evil power

“Bhoot” means past. “Bhoot chaturdashi” occurs on the 14th day of krishna paksha (waning phase of moon). Probably the number “choddo” i.e 14 has come from that.

choddo shak ol kopi

The List of choddo shak – 

As per Bengali panjika (Hindu astronomical almanac), the list of “choddo shak” is as follows – 

Name English Name (if any) Scientific Name
Ol kopi shak German Turnip leaves Brassica oleracea
Keu/ Ketoki Pata   Costus speciosus
Beto /Bethua shak Wild spinach, lamb’s quarters Chenopodium album
Shorisha shak Mustard Leaves Brassica campestris
Kalkashunde/
kashunde Pata
  Cassia sophera
Neem Pata Neem Azadirachta indica
Jayanti Pata Sesban or Egyptian riverhemp Sesbania sesban
Shanche /Shalinche
Pata
Sessile Joywood Alternanthera sessilis
Hingche/ Helencha/
Hilmechika Pata
Buffalo spinach Enhydra fluctuans
Polta/ Patal Pata Pointed gourd (Pawal) leaf Tricosanthes dioica
Shoulak/Sheluka
Pata
Indian Cherry Cordia dichotoma
Guloncha/Guduchi/
Giloy/Amrutha Pata
  Tinospora cordifolia
Ghetu/Bhant pata Hill Glory Bower Clerodendrum infortunatum
Shushni shak Waterclover Marsilea quadrifolia

 

choddo shak 3
https://wellnessmunch.com/neem-leaves-and-diabetes-when-bitter-is-sweet/

Choddo shak nowadays – 

Choddo shak is available in the market on the day of “bhoot chaturdashi”. Nowadays it is sold as a bunch of 14 assorted greens. However, the greens are not the same as per the list is given in panjika. It generally consists of a combination of 14 leafy vegetables from the following list – 

Sl No Name of Choddo
Shaak in Bengali
English Name Scientific Name
1 Palong Shak Spinach Spinacia oleracea
2 Lal Shak Red Amaranth Amaranthus cruentus
3 Kolmi Shak Water spinach /Ipomoea leaves Ipomoea reptans
4 Shorshe Shak Mustard Leaves  Brassica juncea
5 Mulo shak Radish leaves Raphanus sativus
6 Pui Shak Malabar spinach Basella alba
7 Methi Shak Fenugreek leaves Trigonella foenum-graecum
8 Paat Shak Tender jute leaves Corchorus olitorius
9 Chola Shak Bengal gram leaves Cicer arietinum
10 Hincha/ Helencha Shak Helencha leaves Enhydra fluctuans
11 Lau shak Bottle gourd leaves Lagenaria siceraria
12 Kumro shak Pumpkin leaves Cucurbita pepo
13 Kochu Shak Colocasia leaves Colocasia esculenta
14 Thankuni Pata   Centella asiatica
15 Notey Shak Amaranth Amaranthus gangeticus
16 Beto Shak Wild spinach Chenopodium album
17 Shushni Shak   Marsilea minuta
18 Ol kopi Shak German Turnip leaves Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group
19 Neem Pata Neem leaves Azadirachta indica
20 Polta/patal Pata Pointed gourd leaves Trichosanthes dioica
choddo shak 4

Benefits of choddo shak – 

Green leafy vegetables do not only provide nutritional benefits but also contain various medicinal properties. (1, 2)

These are –

  • loaded with minerals and vitamins specially carotene, folic acid, vitamin C, K, iron, calcium, potassium etc
  • rich in soluble and insoluble dietary fiber
  • high in antioxidants
  • Posses antihistaminic, anti inflammatory properties
  • contain antimicrobial, anti fungal properties
  • helps to destroy worms in the body
  • protect liver, keep liver enzyme (SGPT, SGOT, ALP) level under control
  • protect eyes
  • good for skin, prevent skin rashes, pimple, acne outbreak
  • few greens contain anti asthmatic properties
  • act as pain reliever, has analgesic effect
  • keeps body hydrated
  • low on glycemic index thus control blood sugar
  • helps to keep blood pressure low
  • helps in weight loss
  • act as natural detox
  • few greens helps to control mood swing, insomnia and seasonal depression
  • retain water, increase the bulk of stool, reduce colon transit time thus cure and prevent constipation
  • keeps gut healthy
  • boost overall immunity
https://wellnessmunch.com/enough-of-diabetic-diet-lets-focus-on-reversing-diabetes/
https://wellnessmunch.com/4-steps-for-constipation-treatment-at-home/
choddo shak 12

Recipe of choddo shak – 

Ingredients 

  • Choddo shak ( assorted 14 greens) – 500 gm
  • Brinjal – 1 small
  • Mustard oil – 2 tbs
  • Panchphoron; a mixture of 5 seeds – kalonji (black cumin), methi (fenugreek), fennel (saunf), jeera (cumin), mustard (rai) – 1 tsp
  • Red dry chili – 1-2 nos
  • Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
  • Salt – as per taste
  • Green chili – as per taste
  • Peanut – 1-2 tbs or, Bori ; sun-dried pulse flour dumpling – 7-8 nos (optional) 
Choddo shak 2

Process – 

  • Clean the bundle of choddo shak and wash thoroughly
  • Chop the greens
  • Cut the brinjal into small dice
  • Marinate the brinjal pieces with 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder and salt
  • If using peanut/Bori, fry them first and keep aside
  • Heat 1 tbs of mustard oil and lightly saute the brinjal pieces, keep aside
  • Heat 1 tbs of mustard oil and tamper with pachphoron and dry red chilies
  • Add the greens and pinch of turmeric powder, saute lightly 
  • Put the lid on until it gets reduced and partially cooked
  • Add brinjal and salt and allow to cook
  • Add green chili
  • Once the water evaporates, add peanut/ bori
  • Serve hot with steamed rice
Choddo shak5

Bottom Line 

No matter how busy you are, it’s nice to follow a certain tradition. If you are in Bengal, look for choddo shak this year. If you are like me, staying away from your hometown, buy a few types of green whatever is available in your region and follow the same recipe. Trust me it’s healthy and yummy. Celebrate “bhoot chaturdoshi” with “choddo shak” and “choddo prodeep”. After all, it’s Bengali Halloween.


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Dr. Soma Chakrabarty is based in Hyderabad. She has 15 yrs of working experience in nutrition. She guides people to modify eating behavior and achieve goals for wellness. She believes in a practical diet that helps people to live rather than survive.

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12 Comments

Avarage Rating:
  • 0 / 10
  • Heliophile's diary , 28th November 2019 @ 9:11 pm

    Nice

  • Siddhartha Ray , 16th November 2020 @ 8:22 pm

    There are two types of choddo shak as mentioned by you: 1. As per panjika and 2. Now a days available in market. Which one is useful for us? If possible please mention the usefulness of each shak individually and also let us know if any harmful effects are there from this shak against different diseases.

    • Dr. Soma Chakrabarty , 19th November 2020 @ 12:38 am

      Availability of actual choddo shak as per panjika is tough. Those 14 types of green had specific medicinal value. The choddo shak available these days have it’s own benefits – nutritional as well as medicinal. We will surely write individual article on each shak soon.

  • Prof.Santa Datta(De) , 30th October 2021 @ 9:52 am

    Every topic, writting E overall presentation is scientific attractive. Special appreciation is deserved for the article on “choddosak”. All the best…….Prof.Santa Datta(De)

    • Dr. Soma Chakrabarty , 30th October 2021 @ 10:17 am

      Thank you very much for such encouraging words madam. Keep reading and supporting us.

  • Lipika Sen , 30th October 2021 @ 12:40 pm

    Thanks soma, it’s really nice to hear the story against choddosak.

  • Shruti , 3rd November 2021 @ 1:40 pm

    Great job, most of the names I am hearing the first time. But anyways,you missed one, some shops add sojne saak or Drumstick(Moringa oleifera) now-a-days. But if you have knowingly omitted that, then that’s all fine

  • Dr. Jayanto Das , 20th October 2022 @ 10:59 am

    Hello Dr. Chakravarty, good to know that some of the ancient Bengali traditions are still alive and strong through people like you. Keep up the good work.
    Jayanto Das (Sydney)

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