Festive season is around the corner and what’s a better start than Durga Puja . The festive period is a foodie’s paradise with plenty of mouth-watering dishes to savour. People can be found sampling delicious Bengali dishes during Durga Puja . From snacks to sweet dishes, Bengali food has something to offer all food enthusiasts.
Here are 17 Bengali dishes you need to taste this festive season:
1. Luchi
No Bengali breakfast is complete without fluffy, deep fried luchis. They are made with maida, but unlike puris , they have a light golden texture. Luchis can be enjoyed with sumptuous gravies and spicy dry veggies.
2. Alur Torkari
Hot steaming Alur Torkari is a good way to enjoy Bengali food . The spicy flavour of Torkari is balanced with steaming hot luchis. The dish makes for a grand breakfast during Maha Saptami .
3. Sandesh
Prepared with milk, sugar and paneer, and decorated with pistachios, almonds and saffron strands, this Bengali sweet dish will melt in your mouth. The nuts give the soft mithai a crunchiness and saffron strands give it a unique flavour. If you haven’t had sandesh yet, you should definitely try it out this Durga Puja.
4. Tangra Macher Jhol
This spicy Catfish curry is a massive hit amongst Bengalis. Prepared with freshly grounded spices, the gravy is thick and full of flavours. The red chillies bring out a fiery taste in the curry. It is best enjoyed hot with plain steamed rice.
5. Shukto
Shukto is an authentic Bengali dish, usually served as the first course of a meal. It is a healthy, wholesome dish prepared with soft brinjals, bitter gourd, sweet potatoes, crunchy drumsticks and bori . The dish is cooked with freshly grounded spices and milk which give a thick texture to the pasty gravy.
6. Mutton Biryani
This dish has a unique smell of desi ghee mixed with rich masalas that you’ll enjoy. Juicy tender pieces of mutton cooked in rice and tava, and sautéed spices make it a mouth-watering recipe. With a rich flavour to offer, this dish is a must try.
7. Aloo Potol Posto
It is a quick, tasty and light preparation. Potol Posto or Pointed Gourd is cooked in thick poppy seeds and coconut puree with red and green chillies that gives it a hot and rich taste. The perfect amount of salt and sugar gives this beautiful dish a tangy yet fiery flavour.
8. Ilish Macher Jhol
Savour your celebrations with this pungent fish curry. This dish is prepared with Hilsa fish in Mustard oil which leaves a tingly flavour in the mouth. Other add on spices, like Nigella seeds, chillies and fine ginger paste give the flavour an interesting twist. The beautifully cooked fish is crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
9. Keema Muttor
This Mughlai minced Mutton gravy with peas has a Bengali twist this festive season. The minced meat is first cooked on medium fire to give it a luscious taste and then freshly roasted spices are added to create a stunning non vegetarian dish. Peas make the dish crunchy with a delicious aroma.
10. Malpua
It is a soft Indian pancake dipped in sweet saffron syrup. The mixture is sometimes delicately seasoned with cardamoms to give it an impeccable taste. This scrumptious sweet dish tastes best when served hot with cold rabri .
11. Kolar Bora
Kolar Bola is a dish made in heaven. Even if you’re not a sucker for sweet dishes, this one will definitely change your mind. Prepared with ripe bananas, grated coconut, sugar and maida , these crunchy fritters will take you on a rollercoaster ride of flavours this festive season.
12. Cholar Dal
Cholar Dal is a typical Bengali dish prepared with channa dal , especially during ceremonies. The dal is slightly sweet with a nice fragrance due to the presence of rich spices like bay leaf and cinnamon in it. Coconut bits are added to give it a crunchy texture and a delicious taste. You can enjoy this dal with luchis and rice.
13. Doi Fulkopi
It is a cauliflower dish cooked in spicy yogurt curry. This lip smacking curry is thick in texture and rich in flavours. Wrapped in garam masala , cinnamon, bay leaf, ginger paste and chillies, it has the right amount of moisture that provides a balanced amount of spice to the dish.
14. Mishti Doi
No Bengali festival is complete without this delectable sweet curd. This light dish after a meal will quickly cool you down, leaving a delicious flavour behind. Mishti Doi has a thick and dense texture, just like ice cream. The dry fruits give the yogurt a crunchy flavour.
15. Begun Bhaja
Shallow fried brinjals with some chaat masala or salt is a snack you can’t stop eating. Perfectly cooked Begun Bhajas are tender with a sweet flavour. A fine rice flour coating gives this snack a crispy twist.
16. Mochar Ghonto
Mochar Ghonto is an appetizing dry curry. This delicious unique preparation of banana flower, coconut and potato is cooked beautifully with roasted spices, salt and sugar. The sugar is added in smoking hot oil which gives the dish a caramelized texture.
17. Mangsher Singara
This Bengali Keema samosa is a delicious appetizer you must try this festive season. The delicious crispy layer of samosa is prepared with maida, salt, cumin seeds and ghee . The filling comes as a surprise with perfectly cooked minced meat, chaat masala, lemon juice, black pepper and peas. This paltable appetizer is best enjoyed with a hot cup of tea or a spicy mint chutney .