Lip Smacking Bengali Delicacies You Have To Try At Durga Puja Pandals

Durga Puja or Pujo is a festival of shakti, good over evil, friends, relatives, and food. We Bengalis are crazy about food and that is precisely the side we are going to explore in this article. Yes, as much as we devoted to Ma Durga, offering her our prayers, and some of us even going vegetarian for those five auspicious days, but when it comes to gastronomy, this is out time to go nuts.

The pandals offer a plethora of dishes and we cannot stop going gaga about them. However, there are some dishes that are delectable and we highly recommend them.

If you're in Kolkata, you cannot miss the quintessential bhog that comprises the famous khichdi, the recipe of which can never be replicated any other time. It is usually served along with a few vegetables, a fried item (potato, brinjal, pumpkin), a mishti (sweet), and even chutneys. Back in the old days, the local boys would either come and deliver these delicious packages to your house, in a large earthen bowl, or you could walk over to your neighbourhood pandal and eat with everyone - almost like a wedding feast, only vegetarian.

Here is a list of some lip-smacking puja dishes you can put your hands on this festive season.

Kosha Mangsho

While most people in our country refrain from eating meat during these nine days of Navratri, a Bengali cannot imagine Durga Puja sans mangsho (goat meat). Kosha mangsho – mutton braised with onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and a host of warm aromatic spices – is spicy with a hint of sweet and is best enjoyed withluchi(puri) or typical Bengali style sweet yellow pulao sprinkled with nuts and raisins. Most Bengali homes make a meal out of kosha mangsho at least once during the Pujas, typically on Nabami.

Biryani

Bengalis love Biryani, any time anywhere. The biryanis made and cherished by Bengalis have a lot of potatoes and eggs alongside succulent chunks of meat. During this festival, the biryani is kept on low flame in giant pots and served straight out of it.

Chop-cutlet

Bengalis love chop-cutlet culture! While the Khadyoroshik Bangali often feast on fish fry and mutton Kabiraji, the Bengal’s obsession with the crumb coated, deep-fried delights takes a whole new meaning during Durga Puja. Fish fry, which is crumb fried fish fillet served with a potent mustard sauce or Kasundi, is a must. Then there is the mangsher chop (minced meatballs, crumbed and fried), fish roll, (fish fillet rolls stuffed with minced fish and prawn stuffing) batter-fried fish and more.

Cholar Dal/ Luchi& Aloo Dum

Bengalis are very serious about their luchi which is deep fried, puffed bread. These luchis are to be had with aloo dum or shada aloor tarkari (curried potatoes cooked without turmeric). Come Durga Puja it is almost compulsory. Another variety is yourfried bread stuffed with a lentil stuffing. It is normally served with a spicy aloo dum or sweet cholar dal.

Rolls & Chowmein

During Durga Puja rolls from roadside joints are a must. And so is our typical chowmein which is also called ‘chow’. Also please do not expect Chinese food when you order for a plate of these fried noodles. It is not even close to it!

Mishti (sweets)

Bengali sweetmeats. Need we say more? Ranging from simple mishti doichanar jilipi to mihidana, sitabhog and langcha, roshogollas, kamala bhog, sandesh, mihidana tart and Pantua, there are loads for everyone and each has a different unique taste. You have to sink your teeth into it and treat your senses to it.

Read More:Durga Puja, Navratri Special: Have You Tried This Recipe Of Chennar Payesh?

Ghugni

In most Bengali homes, on Dashami, a large pot of ghugni, along with other sweets and snacks, is made and served to guests who drop in for the obligatory Bijaya visit. Ghugni is curried dried white peas crammed with finely chopped coconut and often topped with roasted spices, finely chopped onions and coriander leaves and a generous drizzle of lime juice. You have to try it at the pandals. You will find it for sure. Just have your heart in the right place!

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