Where can I get neem leaves for neem begun, a traditional Bengali dish

Neem or nimtree is a very common plant in the Indian subcontinent. Its leaves & fruits have many health benefits. Its leaves are used to make various Ayurveda medicines. Neem leaves are often used to make various home remedies for skin, hair etc. Apart from that, neem leaves are also used to make dishes in some region. Neem begun bhaja is one of those dishes. It is a very traditional and popular Bengali dish. But people who live in urban area and can not find neem leaves in their locality. But they need it make some dishes or home remedy, so they often use to ask themselves “Where can I get neem leaves?“. Is this not true?

Scroll down to see traditional Bengali dish Neem Begun recipe

Many people in the urban area live in flats or small homes where they do not have enough space to have a small garden, not only that interactions among neighbors are very limited as compared to the rural area or semi-urban area. So they need to be dependent on the local market for anything they need to make a home remedy.

Suppose you want neem leaves for making neem begun bhaja, a medicinal dish as well as a traditional Bengali dish. But you are not being able to find neem leaves in the local market. So you have to drop your plan. But you will never have to face such issue if you can grow neem plant in a container. This way you can have a neem tree on your balcony or on your rooftop. So you will never have to ask yourself “Where can I get neem leaves?“, haha. You can find neem leaves at your own place anytime whenever you want.

Also read: Home grown bitter gourd vegetables, Grow pumpkin in containers, Grow Gotu Kola in containers

Growing nimtree (neem plant) is not difficult. Add one part garden soil, one part compost, one part coco-pit and half part of sand. Combine all and fill your container and pick your healthy neem plant and put it in the soil. Give water & organic fertilizer regularly.

Neem begun bhaja recipe

Neem begun

 

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Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 14 minutes Traditional Bengali dish Neem begun

Author: PM (FavCounter)

Recipe type: Main

Cuisine: Bengali

Serves: 3-4 people

Ingredients

• ¼ cup neem leaves
• 1 cup brinjal/eggplant (begun), cut into small cubes
• 2-3 dry whole red chillies
• Pinches of turmeric powder
• Salt as needed
• 1 tbsp mustard oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a cooking pan, fry small pieces of brinjal, add turmeric powder & salt, then saute all and take all fried brinjal pieces in a separate pot
2. Now add red chilies and saute till you get a strong aroma of red chilies
3. Then add neem leaves and saute till raw smell goes away, color of neem leaves turns to more dark
4. Now add fried brinjal pieces too and mix all
5. Now serve this with plain rice

Notes

Try this with plain rice during summer days, it is good for health and a traditional & very common dish in Bengali households during summer days
Don't ask- "Where can I get neem leaves?" Rather grow your own neem plant in a container and find neem leaves at your own place, haha.

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Now ask yourself …..

Where can I get neem leaves for neem bengun bhaja?

I think you got the answer 😀