Usually when work based outings are planned eating out comes as a natural choice because of convenience, time constraints, distance from residence etc. But in our family of foodies it is the other way around. We plan a feast first and then decide what important work can be undertaken around the food joint which we have selected for the day. 😂😂😂😂
For a long time we (me and my elder sister) were hankering after Luchi (Fried Puffs) and Aloor Dom (Potato Curry) – a typical Bengali combo. Generally, it is had for breakfast but we wanted to have it for lunch. Blame it on the rains which make us salivate for rich, spicy khana.
So, the day before yesterday we planned an outing accordingly. We had to go to the southern part of the city as all the Bengali restaurants are situated there.
After finishing our work which was obviously near the location of the eatery we headed straight towards the main attraction. It was a small restaurant for families , friends and work colleagues out for an informal meal.
We ordered Luchi and Aaloor Dum or Dum Aloo of the North along with Chholar Dal, i.e., Channe Ki Dal (Bengal Gram lentil) as it is called in Hindi. But the dishes we ordered were made in the typical Bengali style which is way different from the North Indian style of cooking. Along with it was Mochaar Cutlet or Banana Flower Cutlet – an absolute Bengali delicacy. B-I-L had Bhetki Maachher Kalia or Bhetki Fish Curry and Rotis. We ended with Mishti Doi or sweet curd, again a Bengali speciality.
The potato curry that goes very well with the puffs – (made up of all purpose floor) – is rich, flavourful with well fried golden brown baby potatoes/big potatoes chopped to size. The chholar dal is thick with a subtle coconut flavour. Both these preparations have a slight sweet taste which is essential to the dishes. But the sweetness is balanced with other spices like the Bengali garam masala in the potato curry which enhances its taste tenfold. The chholar dal is garnished with roasted cumin and fennel seeds and green cardamoms. At home we put kishmish in it too.
The bhetki (Sea Bass or Baramundi) fish curry or Kalia essentially has onion, garlic and ginger paste as the main ingredient in the gravy. The fish is deep fried till it is crisp and red and the masalas are also well fried till the oil separates from them. The gravy is thick and of a rich dark red or blackish brown colour. Didi said it tasted better with rice the next afternoon at lunch (we had got it packed as well). Since, I am a sparse non veg eater I abstained from having it.
We bought a lot of Bengali sweets on our way home which included Rasho Kodombo made out of jaggery, Malai Toast, Kacha Golla and even Orissa’s famous Chhanna Poda.
Though we were feeling very full but our taste buds were quite satisfied. I skipped dinner. So did Didi. As of now we feel like two smugly happy cats till of course the next outing is planned.
Till then….
😊😊😊😊
And while reading, I wish I could see the recipes in photos. Sounds satisfying and tasty, gc
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As usual I forgot to click 😕
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Sometimes, it’s awkward to click too🤭
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You really enjoyed the food! You brought out the spice and flavor with your words! I would love to know more about Bengali sweets you wrote since Bengali sweets are limited to rasagolla! Want to learn more.
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Yes, I did. Since we cook very less oily and spicy stuff at home, once in a blue moon such rich food is soul satisfying.
Bengali sweets are of a very wide range – rasagollah, sandesh, chamcham, pantua, Lady Ginny etc.
Make a trip to Kolkata you will know. There are many which are so exotically named like Chandramallika, Labongolotika etc.. 😂😂😂😂
Then there are puli peetha, chhanar payesh etc.
I don’t know how many of them are available in US.
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Every sweet is sold as an Indian sweet in an Indian store! Maybe when I am in India I should order something online from Bengal and get it delivered! Samosas and gulob jamun are gold standard Indiam food here.
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Good Morning,Geeta Di
Foodies as writers and foodies as readers, wonderful combination.
Tasty food.
Kashmiri Pandits are experts in cooking Dum Aloo,our pandit classmates and friends would share with us.
We prepare fish curry in the same way you have mentioned,it is true that it tastes better with rice.
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Good Morning Nusrat!
Dum Aloo is prepared differently in different regions. Like Kadhi. All tasty.
Kashmiri Wazwaan, the little I have tasted, is delicious.
We cook fish in different ways. Kalia is just one of them. It can also be cooked as a plain gravy with minimum masala. It can also be cooked in curd, orange juice, mustard paste – all delicacies. The preparations can range from chillicious to bland but very tasty.
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During Hajj,the hotel in which we resided in Madina had a chef from Bangladesh.He used to cook different varieties of fish but all were less spiced and with curry,only one you have written about resembles most of our recipe.
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The food sounds very yummy Geeta
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Thank you Sadje. They were 😋
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Awesome
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😊😊😊😊
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💞💞💞
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A special meal
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Yes, certainly. Thank you so much Derrrick 🙏
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Sounds very yummy!
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Yes, they were worth making that trip.
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Yes, the weather makes us long for delicious food, but it wasn’t just the dishes. The way you described them made them even more tempting 😍
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Hee…Hee… A foodie s rambles
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😁
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Wonderful descriptions of the food…and now I’m hungry! 🙂
I can’t say I’m familiar with Bengali foods, but it all seems wonderful.
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If you have any eatery owned by a Bangladeshi around you can get these dishes and many more customized to your taste.
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Now I want to each luchi and aaloor dum and definitely mochar chop!
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😆😆😆😆
There are outlets in your city too.
You just have to be adventurous
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There is. And I did order a week ago 😀
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Sounds gorgeous – all of it! 😋
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It was. Thanks. 😆
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The dishes sound delishes, Geeta. I do enjoy Indian food but no nothing how it differs between regions.
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I’m drooling! great post!
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😆😆
Thank you so much
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What a delightful read — it felt like a full‑blown Bengali food pilgrimage powered entirely by cravings and rain‑soaked nostalgia. Loved the way the “work” politely followed the food. Two very happy, very well‑fed cats indeed.
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😊😊😊😊
Indeed.
How well you expressed – a good pilgrimage powered by soul cravings and rain soaked nostalgia – only a Bengali can understand the inner yearnings of two contented Bengali cats.
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Hahaha, yes. Thanks.
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what a feast! I am salivating here lol! 😀
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Hehh…Hehh….Enjoy!! 😊
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