MAIN INGREDIENTS
Panta bhat is a simple rice dish prepared by first cooking the rice, rinsing it, and then soaking it in water overnight. The dish is rich in minerals, and it is believed to have health-beneficial effects. Because it is usually enjoyed chilled, it is a favorite summer treat, and apart from being a typical everyday breakfast, it is also regularly prepared for special occasions such as Bengali New Year and Pahela Baishakh festivity.
The dish is usually topped with fresh green chili peppers, salt, and onions, and when served with fried ilish fish it goes under the name panta ilish.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Panta ilish is a dish from Bangladesh that combines a bowl of panta bhat—cooked and soaked rice—with fried ilish fish. The combination is traditionally enjoyed in urban areas, and it has become a staple dish served on the Pahela Baishakh, a national holiday celebrating the first day of the Bengali calendar.
The fish is usually generously seasoned with turmeric, chili powder or other spices, and the dish is typically topped with fresh chili peppers, onions, and bhorta—traditional vegetable or fish mash that is usually served as a side dish.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Bhorta
A staple during the month of Ramadan in numerous Middle Eastern countries is a plate of jareesh, a satisfying meal which combines coarse wheat and meat. This centuries-old dish probably originated in Saudi Arabia, but has since spread throughout the entire Middle East and India.
Numerous countries in the area have created their unique varieties, employing authentic ingredients and giving the dish local names. In Middle Eastern countries, harees is usually prepared with coarse ground wheat which is mixed with water, butter, and meat, then left to soak overnight.
This traditional Bengali dish consists of chickpeas and diced potatoes that are served in a tamarind-based sauce. Typical additions also include onions, boiled eggs, sliced green chili peppers, and fresh mint or cilantro, while the sauce is usually spiced with cumin and chili powder.
The whole dish is occasionally topped with cucumbers, boiled eggs, as well as crackers or crumbled puri (fuchka)—fried bread shells. Chotpoti is popular in Bangladesh and West Bengal, and it is typically associated with special occasions such as Eid, though it is also a favorite everyday snack and a common street food dish.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Jhalmuri is a popular snack from Bangladesh and India prepared by simply tossing the selected ingredients together. A simple translation of the name reveals what it’s all about; jahl means spicy, and muri stands for puffed rice, which is also the main ingredient of the dish.
The recipe here is only a mere guideline, while the important thing is to balance the textures and flavors correctly. Apart from puffed rice, other ingredients include roasted peanuts, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, sliced onions, and various spices such as chaat masala and cumin powder.
Although it is believed to have its origins in Persia, zulbia or jalebi is an international dessert with variations that spread throughout the Middle East, India, and Asia. In its basic form, this sweet dessert is created by combining flour with yogurt or ghee, as well as baking soda or yeast to create a batter which is then poured in circular patterns directly into the sizzling oil.
The final result is a crispy treat that is then doused in a thick syrup, which can be flavored with rosewater, saffron, honey, orange blossom water, or cardamom. In both Iran and India, zulbia is served on special occasions, and it is usually sprinkled with chopped pistachios or saffron threads.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Ilish macher paturi is the national dish of Bangladesh. It is made with ilish fish that has been marinated with ground spices before it's wrapped in banana leaves and steamed or roasted. The ingredients used in the dish typically include mustard paste, chili peppers, mustard oil, and turmeric.
A little bit of the marinade is usually saved and poured over the fish after it's been cooked. The dish is traditionally accompanied by rice on the side.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Papadum is an Indian snack made with either gram, rice, or chickpea flour that is baked into a thin, crispy cracker bread. It can be consumed on its own, with pickles, or served with other dishes such as curries, when it's used as a utensil for scooping the dish up.
Papadum can also be topped with chutneys or raita sauce and accompanied by hot tea. With its popularity, there are some variations on the dish, such as rice papadum which is boiled in water and dried in the sun, masala papadum with spices such as black pepper, chili, cumin, and garlic, or jackfruit papadum from Karnataka, which combines jackfruit with chickpea flour.
VARIATIONS OF Papad
Shami kebab is a variety of kebab made by combining minced lamb, mutton, beef or chicken with split bengal grams, onions, chilis, ginger, garlic, and various herbs and spices such as cumin, red chili flakes, garam masala, and mint leaves. The meat mixture is then seasoned with salt and pepper and shaped into round patties, which are then coated with beaten eggs and pan-fried until their exterior becomes crispy, but the patties remain silky and tender on the inside.
These kebabs are commonly enjoyed in India, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and make for an excellent snack, appetizer, or an accompaniment to the main course. Believed to have originated in Lucknow, shami kebabs pair well with onions, lime or lemon wedges, roti or naan, and various chutneys on the side.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Kebab
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Sandesh is a traditional sweet originating from the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. It is typically served as a dessert and consists of milk, chhena or paneer, sugar, and flavorings such as cardamom and saffron. The small paneer balls are typically garnished with pistachios, almonds, or crushed pineapple.
After spending some time in the refrigerator, well-chilled sandesh is ready to be served and consumed. Although sandesh is usually round in shape, it can also be shaped into elephants, fish, or conch shells.
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