Shiuli Pata Bhaja | Prajakta Leaves Fry
Ingredients
- Shiuli pata (শিউলি পাতা), about 2–3 leaves per serving
For the binder:
- Rice flour – 2 tbsp
- Flour – 1 tbsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Sugar – ¼ tsp
- Mustard oil – 1 tbsp
Method
- Take fresh green leaves. Wash gently and drain thoroughly.
- Mix the binder ingredients with just enough water.
- Dip the whole leaf into the binder mixture and fold lightly.
- Heat a flat tawa or non-stick pan on medium heat for shallow frying.
- Wet your fingers and place leaves one by one with a thin coating of binder.
- Shallow fry using 1 tbsp mustard oil in batches.
- Do not turn the leaf until one side is properly cooked.
- Flip and fry for a few minutes on the other side.
- The leaves and binder become crunchy with slight green-brown colour.
- Repeat until all leaves are cooked.
- Serve hot with steamed white rice before beginning the meal.
Healthy Hints
- This traditional preparation was often used as a home remedy for childhood pinworm infections and appetite loss after illness.
- During my school days, after long voice practice for recitation, shiuli leaf juice with honey-lemon tea was believed to help clear the voice.
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Shiuli or Night Jasmine) is widely used in traditional Indian medicinal systems. Studies report hepatoprotective, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. In Ayurveda, the leaf decoction is used for internal worm infections, cough, arthritis, fever and digestive issues.
Vernacular Names of Shiuli
- Sanskrit – Parijatha or Nishipushpika
- Bengali – Shephalika, Siuli (Official state flower of West Bengal)
- Oriya – Gangasiuli
- Manipuri – Singgarei
- Assamese – Hkhewali
- Hindi – Harsingar
- Malayalam – Parijatakam
- Marathi – Parijathak
- Gujarati – Jayaparvati
- Kannada – Parijatha
- Tamil – Parijata, Paghala
Shiuli flowers evoke deep nostalgia among Bengalis.
In early autumn the shiuli tree blooms at night and sheds its fragrant flowers by morning. The scent in the air, along with the swaying Kash flowers and the beat of the dhaak, reminds Bengalis that Durga Puja is approaching — “Ma Durgar Agomoni Barta”.
Rabindranath Tagore beautifully described this nostalgic fragrance in his poem I Cannot Remember My Mother. Though he could not recall her face clearly, the scent of shiuli flowers used in morning worship reminded him of his mother’s presence.
Traditional Usage
- Parijata is considered one of the five divine wish-granting trees of Hindu mythology.
- The flowers are commonly used for religious offerings and garlands.
- The orange stalks produce a natural dye traditionally used on silk and cotton.
- Buddhist monks historically used the dye for colouring robes.
- In Bengal, dried shiuli stalks were sometimes used as a natural saffron substitute to colour festive rice dishes.
