Aarti
1. Luchi-Alur Dom
The traditional Bengali Sunday brunch features luchis and alur dom. The dish consists of Luchi, which are comparable to puris, and alur dum or aloo dom, a hotter and tangier variation of dum aloo. Fairlie Road in Kolkata is a favourite destination for those who enjoy Bengali street food, so if you’re in the mood for some delicious luchi-alur dom, you know where to go. There are numerous food stalls along the route, selling everything from stuffed luchis (kachuris) to rice and dish curries.
2. Keemar Doi Bora
This harmonious union of minced meat and sweet and spicy curd will have non-vegetarian cuisine fans swooning. Among Bengal’s street dishes, this isn’t particularly well-liked. It is steeped in the cultural legacy of the Tagores, including Nobel Prize winner Rabindra Nath Tagore. Thakurbari, as the Tagore family is commonly called, created the meal, and Purnima Thakur introduced it to the world when she acquired the Tagore family cookbook. Bara Bazaar or Burrabazaar in Kolkata is where you’ll want to go if you want to try this stunning delicacy.
3. Kathi Rolls
The kathi rolls are loved by all. After all, they were first created right there in the Big Apple! Bengalis take great pleasure in their cuisine, particularly their thin rotis wrapped around skewers of grilled, juicy meat kebabs. Some people think the British invented kebabs because they were too neat to touch them with their bare hands. No matter where you’re from, you shouldn’t miss out on Nizam’s and Badshah’s kathi rolls at Kolkata’s New Market. Zaika, located on Park Street in Kolkata, is another great place to have some delicious kathi rolls.
4. Jhal Muri
You might think of it as the bhel’s Bengali cousin. Another popular Bengali street snack is Jhal Muri. The dish consists of rice flakes (muri), roasted lentils, and coconut pieces that have been mixed in a spicy chutney and mustard oil. It’s a practical snack to have on hand while strolling the city at night and carrying on lengthy discussions with a pal. Dacre Lane or Dacre Street in Kolkata is where you should go if you want to try some of the best jhal muri in the world, as deemed by the World Health Organisation.
5. Daab Chingri
Bengali fish curries, in all its varieties, are, hands down, the best in the world. Daab chingri, jumbo prawns cooked in mustard and served in tender coconut, is a must if you’re tired of fish and looking to switch things up. Oh! One of the greatest places to get Daab Chingri in Kolkata is at Calcutta. The nolen-gurer ice cream and bhapa sondesh are also must-tries at this eatery.
6. Shukto
Shukto, a vegetarian speciality of Bengali cuisine, is prepared by cooking bitter gourd, plantains, potatoes and radishes with Bengali panch phorn, the region’s trademark five spices. It’s essentially a Bengali take on a mixed veggie dish. The harshness of the gourd is balanced by the richness of the milky gravy. This is an unusual item in Bengali cuisine, which is often heavy on meat. Traditional shukto can only be had at a Bengali home during the Durga Pujo feast. You may also find this meal at Suruchi, which is located at 89 Elliot Road in Kolkata. Amazing home cooking is provided by a self-help group of women, and the facility is administered entirely by women. Definitely don’t pass up their Bengali thali.
7. Bhetki Macher Paturi
Welcome aboard, fish fanatics! One bite of this and you’ll enter a happy food coma. Slow-cooked in a banana leaf with a mustard and coconut mixture, the fish in Bhetki Macher Paturi is so tender that it practically melts in your mouth. The best bhetki macher paturi can only be prepared by a traditional Bengali professional cook, or Rannar Thakur. If that isn’t possible, then try 6 Ballygunge Place in Ballygunge or Oh! Calcutta in Elgin.
8. Kosha Mangsho
Kosha Mangsho is for those who can’t get enough of lamb. This dish dates back to the time when Britain was still colonising India and consists of mutton cooked in a spicy tomato and yoghurt sauce. Kosha is prepared using 100% mustard oil and several spices. If you’re looking for the best Kosha Mangsho in all of Kolkata, look no farther than Golbari, located in the heart of Shyam Bazaar. The mutton cutlets, kheema, and chaap at this 92-year-old eatery are some of the best in the city.
9. Shorshe Ilish or Ilish Maach
Fried Hilsa fish, also known as Ilish Maach, Shorshe Ilish, or Ilish Bhapa, is prepared in a variety of tasty ways. Traditional Bengalis eat this fish curry as a side dish with rice or Khichudi. It can be prepared in both dried and curry varieties. The greatest spot to have an Ilish Bhapa in Kolkata is at the Kasturi restaurant in Ballygunge.
10. Milk Sweets, Rasgullas, Chamcham, Sondesh
The world is already familiar with Bengali delicacies. Even someone who isn’t a big fan of sweets may want to try one of these delectable treats. The rosogullas, sondesh, and chamcham are not to be missed. Indulge your sweet craving when in Bengal; it would be a sin not to. If you’re looking for the best mishti in Kolkata, you must visit Balaram Mullick and Radharam Mullick in Bhowanipore. Baked rasgullas, which the people of Calcutta have come to love, mango-flavored mishti doi, and a variety of flavoured sondesh are just a few of the delicious confections that are produced at this sugar factory.
