Bengali & Their Taste Buds
The state of West Bengal & Bengalis is famous or well-known all over the world for their cuisine. Bengali foods are responsible for the uniqueness of Bengal's culture. The foreigners & also people from several states of India have just come to Bengal craving for Bengali dishes. The origin of this special Bengali cuisine is traditional. From Nawabs, Zamindars, sweet makers of villages to British officers, all are behind this delicious and famous Bengal cuisine.
As India has a diverse culture, every zone from the north to the south offers something special dishes when we talk about a variety of foods. But in the case of Bengali traditional cuisine, you get the opportunity to have non-vegetarian to vegetarian and mouth-watering sweet desserts as well. Bengali's love for fish dishes will never-ending, and you will not be able to see any kind of love for moreish fish dishes among any other community of the world.
There is an old saying “Breakfast like a King”. And Bengali is the real king in that matter. " Ak CUP-CHAA e Sokal ta Suru" Bengalis are happy to see or happy to start their day with Luchi (round and small in shape, deep-fried and puffed homemade bread), Kochuri (stuffed Luchi), Porota (triangular or round pan-fried homemade bread with or without stuffing) served with Alurdum (a spicy and extremely luscious dish made by the potato) & Daal curry. Without these fried dishes, you can also find some foods which are made of puffed rice like Muri, Khoi, Chira. You will still get in the village areas of Bengal the leftover rice called "Panta Bhaat" as a preferable breakfast dish of the villagers. Bengal's people never limit their breakfast to only these Bengali dishes. They also like to plump for South-Indian, Chinese, Italian & Fry-up or English breakfast during weekends, holidays or on special occasions.
Now come to "lunch like a Prince". A Bengali meal is something where you can find every taste from Bitter to Sweet. Vegetarian to Non-vegetarian dishes. They always start with something bitter like Sukto (a dish prepared with bitter vegetables & herbs) & something called like Shak or leaves (fried). Next is Daal with Bhaja, there are several types of grams called Mushur Daal, Mugh Daal, Chola & Motor Daal with Bhaja called Aloo Bhaja(finger chips), Begun Bhaja (fried brinjal), so on.
Bengali always find their happiness in non-veg dishes. Without any recipe for fish, there is incompleteness in Bengali cuisine. From Maacher dimer bora (deep-fried of fish eggs) to Maach er Jhol (fish stew), Fish Kalia (spicy gravy preparation of fish), Maach er Bhapa (Steamed fish), Ilish maach bhapa, Ilish maacher paturi, Chingri maacher malaikari, Chital maacher muitha, Tel Koi, Pabda maacher jhaal all these are very famous parts of Bengali cuisine. Bengali can't imagine their occasions without fish.
"Maache, Jhole Bangali".
Any meat items are always considered as Bengali's favourite dishes. Kosha Mansho (spicy & delicious preparation of chicken or goat), Kochi Pathar Jhol or Murgir Jhol also mouth-watering preparation of Bengali cuisine. Bengali never desired Sunday without meat dishes.
Other loveable items of Bengali are Bengali Sweets or Desserts (Misti). Mik is one of the important ingredients from which a plethora of Bengali sweets & desserts like Rassogolla, Payesh, Misti Doi, Rabhri etc. are made of.
Ms Chatterjee as a homemaker gave her opinion on Bengali cuisine. She said as a Bengali she preferred Bengali dishes the most but she also expresses her support for Mughai & South-Indians Foods. She has remembered some traditional dishes which were made by her grandmother, mother like Kochur Shak with Ilish Maacher matha, Echor Chingri, Potoler Dorma and so on. She thinks in this busiest life schedule sometimes Bengali women can't manage all these dishes all the time but that doesn't mean they don't like those to eat. She has mentioned some simple but tasty dishes like Alo Bhaja, Maacher Jhol, Daal which are always liked by Bengali.
The traditional & key ingredients of Bengali food culture are Shorsher Tel (Mustard Oil), & Deshi Ghee. Kashundi a special sauce prepared out of Mustard paste is served with fried items is very well-known to Bengali.
Bengal has a past with several rulers like Nawabs & Mughals & British, So that in their list of preferable dishes we can be the witness of the Mughlai dishes like Biriyani, Kababs and murg tandoor, Chinese dishes like Chinese soups, Chowmin, Chilli Chicken & as well as British baked confectioneries, chops and cutlets, continental and so on. Bengali is in the habit of having tea from the Christian community, and nowadays, Bengali proposes their gossip or starts a brainstorming discussion with a cup of tea.
According to Sarbari Chatterjee, Bengalis love their food. When a bunch of Bengalis get together, the conversation mostly revolves around food, football and politics.
When we speak of Bengali cuisine, fish and rice (maach-bhaat) come to mind. But Bengali cuisine isn’t as fishy as one thing. A fabulous vegetarian spread and an amazing range of sweets are also hallmarks of the cuisine.
According to a report, it says that 98% of Bengalis are non-vegetarian and the rest of the people live on vegetables only.
Here is a graph on the vegetarian and non-vegetarian Bengalis.
Bengalis
Total
Non-vegetarian
2 %
Vegetarian
98 %
China Town, Park Street, BBD Bag, Dacre Street or Dacre Lane, Burabazar, College Street, Lord's more and so on places of Kolkata which are always in the mind of Bengali whenever they think about dishes which are different from "Bangali-Aana".
Bengali food is the concept of creativity & innovation which they styled from Breakfast to Dinner table.
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MRINAL'S MAGIC-The Creator !
Vegetarian food is the ultimate choice of the future world...
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Ore Bengali………tui Khabar er Sera
Ore Bengali………tui Khabar er Sera
The meaning of the above phrase: Oh! Bengali……you are best in Food culture…you are best in Football…you lost your everything……..in spending on foods and parties…..
It was a very old saying about a Bengali babu. Food has always been a weakness for Bengalis. In those days Bengalis used to spend a large amount of money just for the sake of food. A Bengali babu has never hesitated in throwing a party to others, and if for the sake of it, they had to exhaust all their wealth they never did minded at all. Not only in marriage ceremonies, any occasion to them was a party time and in these parties lavish expenditure on food reduced many to a popper. Bengalis have been winners in all the delicacies they have presented to the world. Not just mutton, fish and vegetables but the variety of confections and array of fruit dishes have always overawed the gluttons of the world.
Fish has always played an important role in Bengali culture.”Maach Bhhat Banaye Bangali” or “Mache bhate khanate Bengali” these phrases describes the intimacy of fish in Bengali culture. Also it should be noted that fish is very nutritious as well as it’s a good source of protein. It is the most reliable source of protein for over one million people all over the world. Fish is among the most common food allergens.
There are lots of variety of fish that adheres to the Bengali culture. The most famous being Hilsa fish (Ilish) and Lobster (Golda, Bagda).Other famous fish includes Tengra, Parshe, Pabda, Gurjawali, Arr,Gule,Pakal,Kajri,Telapiya…..to name a few.
Some famous fish dishes include Ilish macher sorshe paturi(Hilsa fish in mustard curry binded in banana leaves), ilish maach bhappe(Steamed Ilish),ilish mach kancha kumror jhool(Hilsa with pumpkin),Ilish macher kaachkola diye jhool(hilsa fish with kacha kela),Daab chingri(Prawns with Coconut),Chitol macher Muitha(Chitol fish recipe),Mourala Batichochori(Mourala delicacy), Rui Macher Golap Soru(Fish and Rice cooked together), Koi Macher er horogouri , Koi macher Ganga Jamuna…..and lots of more.
In both parts of Bengal (West Bengal and East Bengal-Bangladesh) fish forms the main recipe. Typically in Bangladesh there is special variety or style of cooking fish. Particularly Chattagram (Chittagong), Lakhipur
these sea facing areas dry up the fishes and cook them with Brinjal and potatoes. This variety is known as “Shutki”. It is a complete East Bengal delicacy. In Dhaka people are more fond of Hilsa and other fishes. In fact the most famous recipe of fishes comes from Dhaka.
A Bengali marriage without fish dishes is incomplete. In marriage special fish dishes include “Rui Macher Kalia” (Rui Fish Curry), “Macher Matha diye Dal” (Dal with Fish Head), “Bhetki Paturi” (Bhetki in Mustard Sauce), “Chingri Macher Malaikari” (Prawns in Coconut curry), “Rui Posto” (Rui in Khus Khus curry), “Ilish Paturi” to name a few. In modern days new dishes like Fish Butter Fry or Fish Orley are also considered.
Fish apart from being taken as food is also considered to be pious. In Hindu culture it is widely used during Saraswati Puja (Jora Ilish’er Bhog). In famous Kali Temple in Kolkata as well as in Dhakeshwari in Dhaka fish is offered to Devi Kali. Fish is often considered as Lakshmi according to Hindu Tradition. In Bengal, before going out of their homes people like to see a fish as because it is considered a lucky one.
Apart from fish, Mutton is a favourite food of Bengal. Some of the mutton dishes include “Kosha Mangsho”( Mutton Curry), “Koch Pathar Jhol” (Mutton Thin Curry), “Mutton Chap in Bengali style”, “Mangshor Jhol” (Mutton Stew) , “Bhojoharir Mangsho” (Mutton dish by Famous imaginary Bengali cook named Bhojohari Manna), “Mangshor Patla Jhol” (Special Mutton Curry) , “ Mutton Dakbanglo” (A dish of Mutton Served during the British Raj), to name a few. Mutton is a must in a Marriage. Mutton is offered to Devi Kali by giving ‘Bali’ to the Devi. So in religion it takes an important place.
Chicken does is not included in traditional Bengali food list. In olden days Hindus of Bengal strictly avoided chicken. But Muslim Bengalis used to have chicken. But with the advancement of days people started to take up chicken. Also with the rise up in cost of mutton chicken is a replacement for mutton.
Favorite chicken dishes includes “Murgir Jhol” (Chicken Curry), “Kosha Murgi” (Chicken Dry Curry) ,” Bon Murgir jhol” (Jungli Murga) to name a few.
Other Non-Veg foods includes Crabs (Kankra), Moluscles (Geri). There is a famous crab dish called “Digama sahib er Kankra”. This crab dish was eaten by Vasco Da’ Gama.
Beef forms an important part in Muslim Bengali culture. During Bengali New Year they cook a very special dish known as “Goru kalia”. Also favorite beef dishes include “Beef Kosha”, Beef Cutlet”, “Beef Chop”. “Beef Biriyani” …to name a few.
There is lot of Non veg Bengali foods. But there are lots of veg foods too. These Bengali veg foods are very important. In a typical Hindu Bengali home a widow is forbidden to take Non-veg foods. So, it forms an important diet for a Hindu widow. Some great traditional Bengali veg foods include “Potoler Dolma” (Parval preparation), “Dhoka Dalna” , “Labra” (Mixed Vegetables) , “Ghoogni”(Matar Sabji), “Aloor Dum”, “Niramish Chochori” (Mixed Vegetables) , “Lau Borir Ghanto”(Lauki with Bari), “ Mulo Ghonto”, “Cholar Dal” (Chana Dal), “Sona Muger Dal”(Moong Dal), “Mochar Ghonto” , Shukto, to name a few.
A very famous dish in Bengal is Posto (Poppy seeds). It can be made with Vegetables like Aloo, Cauliflower, Bhindi, Taru…etc It is also prepared with Mutton, prawns or Chicken. Bengalis really love posto.
Biriyani is not a traditional food in Bengal but Pulao is prepared in al over Bengal. Although, In Dhaka-Bikrampur there is Biriyani called Dhakai Biriyani. In Bengal people used to take just plane rice and Mutton or fish. Khichri (Khichuri) forms a very traditional food in Bengali culture. It is taken during the monsoon season with Beguni or Ilish Bhaja and pappar, Achar. Kichuri is also served as an “Asthumi Bhog” during the famous Durga Pujas.
There are varieties of breads and snacks or starters in Bengali. Luchi is the most famous bread. It is served traditionally with “Kosha Mangsho” or Aloor Dum or Cholar Dal. Dhakai Paratha is a famous paratha variety. Paratha in Bengal is also served with “Kumro’r Chakka” (Pumpkin Sabji). Snacks include “Beguni, Allor Chop, Mochar Chop, Kabiraji, Hingche Chop, Cutley”…..and lots of more.
There are lots of varieties of chutneys is prepared in Bengal. This includes Chalta Chutney, Mango Chutney (Fatik Jhol), Amra Chutney, Jalpai Chutney…and many more.
Bengali sweet is famous all over the world. In whole of Indian subcontinent no other place for sweet. The traditional Rassgulla (Rossogolla) was first invented in Dhaka by Nabin Chandra Das in 1765 AD. However in 1782 when he shifted his base to Kolkata, Rasgulla became a part of Kolkata. In 1852, Bishnu Charan Guin invented a sweet and named it after Lord Canning’s Wife Lady Canning. With the passage of days it camed to known as “Ladicanne”. Other sweets include Dahi(Doi)(Molla Chowk), Monohara(Janai),Lengcha(Shaktigarh), Rosmalai(Commila), Pantua(Ranaghat),chomchom(Kolkata),Jora Mundi(Krshnanagar),ChanaBora(Midnapore),Golap Papri,Suji Halua,Sandesh(Dhaka , Kolkata),Patishapta(Faridpur),Payesh(Kheer), Zarda, Pithe(During Winters),Shor Bhaja(Murshidabad)…and there are lots of lots of more. These are just a few.
At the end of everything Pan formed an important ending of a Bengali feast. Pan is traditionally served with Chun (Chuna), Khair (Katha), Supuri (Supari), Mitha Masala, Chaman Bahar, Elaichi, Gulkand, Chatni.
Some Famous Dishes from Different Districts of Bengal:
Ilish Paturi (Dhaka-Bikrampur).
Chitol Mitha and Kalia (Faridpur).
Shutki (Chittagong, Narayanganj, lakhipur, Noakhali, Barishal, Patuakhali).
Mangsho kosha (Kolkata)
Chingri Bhate (Murshidabad).
Chingri Malaikari (West Bengal).
Ilish Bhate (Mymensingh , Sylhet)
Dhoka (West-Bengal)
Posto (Bengal)
Kopi Chochori (Tangail).
To name a few……………………………………………
But in these days people are too busy to make this preparation. So, they are inclining towards these bogus pizza and burgers. New generations are totally unaware of these foods. They even, haven’t heard the names. Bengal is losing its culture and if it goes on in this manner, it will not take too much time when these foods will be in the pages of history. However, apart from Bengali foods Bengali are now consuming varities of food. Including Punjabi, Chinese, Italian, Mexican…etc
“Ore Bengali roili na je tui Bengali…..maach bhat chere dhorli le je biliti khana”
(Oh! Bengali……..you are no longer a Bengali……..For the sake of continental food you have forgotten your culture. You have stopped eating Fish and rice for the sake of Pizzas and Burgers).
Post Contributed By:
Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty
Contact Cell: +0918335020843
Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty
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