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Poila Boishakh, also referred to as Pohela Boishakh, or Bengali New Year is around the corner and as always Bengali are excited to celebrate the day with great enthusiasm and fervour. Poila Boishakh marks the first day of the Bengali annual calendar. This year, the day will be celebrated on April 14.
Food and festivities go together for all Bengalis, and this stands true for Poila Boishakh too. When Poila Boishakh comes to mind, people buy and gift new clothes, and you’re reminded of the scent of fresh gum in halkhata, the warmth of the bright sun, and the fragrance of ghee and spices from the kitchen. Poila Boishakh is all about enjoying yourself with friends and family and inviting the close ones to dine the freshly made home food.
The Poila Boishakh spread consists of authentic Bengali foods. This article will provide you with a meal plan that you and your loved ones can enjoy in Bengali New Year.
Take a look:
Starters: Vegetable Chop And Fish Fry
Celebrate the day by serving your guests appetizing starters, including vegetable chop and fish fry. Vegetable chop is a popular street food in Bengal that features a crispy exterior with an interior filled with mashed beetroot, mashed potatoes, peanuts, and other aromatic spices. Alongside serve fish fry, which is another popular Bengali street food. Fish fry is mainly made with bhetki fillets which are marinated in a medley of spices and have a soft, delicate interior and deep-fried, crispy outside. Both starters are paired with tangy kasundi and salad.
Main Course: The Bengali Favoiurites
The main course of the Bengali meal of Poila Boishakh revolves around traditional thali, The platter exemplifies a lavish spread that showcases the diverse flavours of Bengali cuisine. You can enjoy a hearty lunch with this homemade thali.
- Rice
Start by serving steamed rice on a banana leaf plate as the staple base for the meal. The rice can be Basmati rice or Gobindobhog rice. Offer a slice of lemon and a pinch of salt alongside the rice.
- Dal
What comes next is a comforting dal, such as bhaja moong dal or cholar dal. This dish provides protein and warmth to the meal. Yellow dal is tempered with spices and garnished with fresh coriander leaves.
- Aloo Posto
This is a quintessential Bengali favourite where potato cubes are cooked in a creamy poppy seed paste. The poppy seeds paste adds a nutty flavour which is complemented by the earthy flavour of the potatoes. They add texture to the dish as well. The subtle heat of the green chillies elevates the dish.
- Daab Chingri
This is a signature dish of the Bengalis, and the preparation consists of prawns which are cooked in tender coconut shells. Coconut water is added to the dish which enhances its flavour further. The dish combines the natural sweetness of coconut water and delicate spices.
- Mutton Kosha
Every Bengali meal is incomplete without mutton kosha. This aromatic and rich dish is slow cooked where the tender mutton pieces and simmered in a thick gravy infused with caramalised onions, ginger, garlic, and a blend of spices until they melt in the mouth.
- Aam Chutney
This sweet and tangy mango chutney adds a refreshing contrast to the hearty savoury main course. This is made of raw green mangoes which are cooked in sugar syrup. They tantalize the taste buds and are a compulsory addition to the hot summer Bengali New Year.
Desserts: Sweet Endings
It is impossible to complete a Bengali meal without the inclusion of decadent desserts. Here are two desserts that you can include in your Poila Boishak thali:
- Payesh
Payesh is a traditional Bengali rice pudding simmered in milk and sweetened with jaggery or sugar. The creamy and aromatic dessert is flavoured with cardamom, saffron, and a generous number of nuts and raisins.
- Malpua
Malpua is a beloved Bengali dessert that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It is made from a batter of flour, milk, and sugar and is deep-fried to golden perfection and soaked in fragrant sugar syrup flavoured with cardamom and saffron.
Mouth Freshener: Paan For A Refreshing Twist
To conclude the feast on a refreshing note, give your guests the chance to indulge in paan, a traditional mouth freshener that is made from betel leaves upon which betel nuts, spices, and sweeteners are placed. Paan not only aids in digestion but also serves as a symbolic gesture of hospitality and gratitude.
