Top Bengali recipes 2024

Bengali cuisine has been shaped by a lot of local and foreign influences. The British, and Portuguese, who settled down here, popularised the cutlets and cottage cheese (chenna) respectively. While within Bengal, widows who were barred to eat non-veg, spicy food, came up with umpteen delicacies like the Dhokar Dalna, that would use all veg ingredients, but it will be cooked in a certain way that its texture would resemble meat. Bengali cuisine is innovative, unique and you will always find something for everyone.  

Bengali Recipes For Breakfast

Much like most of India, the Bengalis also like to start the day with an indulgent. So usual suspects are Luchi (maida-based cousin of Puri) with Aloo Dom, Radhaballavi, a stuffed kachori that looks a lot like puri, and is paired with a spicy aloo curry, then there is Koraishutir kochuri, a Bengali Kachori made with stuffing of crushed peas. If you want something even heavier, then you can go for the Mughlai paratha. This ultra crispy, deep-fried egg paratha is filled with minced meat, the paratha is served with aloo subzi, salad and kasundi.  

Bengali Recipes For Lunch

You can keep the lunch as heavy or as light as you want. If you are in a particularly indulgent mood, then you have to try the Kolkata Biryani, said to be an off-shoot of Lucknawi biryani, this biryani was modified as per local palates and times, so in Kolkata biryani, along with rice and meat, you will also find boiled potatoes and eggs. Another, iconic meaty delicacy to try is Kosha Mangsho, Kosha in Bengali means ‘tight’. The masala of this mutton curry is fried so much that it obtains a rich semi-thick consistency. Among fish of course, there are options aplenty. Doi Maach (fish curry flavoured with curd), to Muri Ghonto (fish-head curry) and Ilish Maacher Paturi (Mustard coated Hilsa fish steamed inside leaves), you will be spoilt for choice.  

Bengali Recipes For Dinner

You can totally skip dinner in Bengal if your evening adda comprised a good Kathi Roll, a meat-filled wrap with sauces and sliced onions, and a round of chops and cutlets. Otherwise, everthing that you had for lunch can be repeated for dinner, but why should you take the boring course when there are so many options ahead, Bengali-style bhuna khichdi and chorchori spells comfort. Dimer Dalna and Chingri Malai Curry with rice are true celebration of different flavours, created out of bare minimum ingredients.