Food that Reflects Culture

Bangladeshi food draws its culinary roots from Indian food culture. There is proverb that is Mache Bhaate Bangali (rice and fish). Rive is the staple food here and it is not taken in a small amount. Most of the people from all over the country eat rice for the main three meals and eat it everyday. Bangladesh comes from the cultural food habit of rice, fish, chicken, mutton, egg , spices and lentils (dal) etc. Fish is a chief component of the daily meal for the average Bengalis, and a unique Bengali dish is ‘Paturi’ which is basically fish wrapped in banana leaves and cooked with desi (local) spices.

Panta Bhaat

Other important and famous festival meal include the ‘Panta Bhaat’, which is served during the Bengali New Year festival. This is essentially white rice soaked and boiled in water for a night and served with spices, salt and various other mixes, but most importantly served with a piece of Hilsa fish. This is an important yearly tradition, specially observed in rural areas. Another important and equally tantalizing dish is the ‘bhorta’ which is a mesh of fishes, potatoes, vegetables, chicken. Also various spices, salt and herbs add to the delicacy. Another daily side meal is Bhaji, that is fried vegetables cooked with salt. Vegetable and fish curry are served with thick gravy known as ‘Jhol’. Another rich delicacy includes the ‘biryani’ which is fine rice mixed boiled in oil and served with chicken roast and mutton rezala( curry delicacy). The Benglai style drink that goes with it is the ‘borhani’, which is basically a spicy and concentrated yoghurt flavored drink. Biryani is usually arranged for special occasions, specially weddings. Kabab is very popular and well known also in few other countries too. it was mainly introduced by the mughals and is mainly a chunk of meat skewered on an iron spike mixed with other spices. Another very popular food item is Pitha or cake made with mixture of rice, flour, water and gur (raw sugar or molasses). These are especially made for traditional occasions, Bangla new year and during winter.

Puchka

The talk of food can never be completed without mentioning the street foods. Bangladesh is popular for it’s cheap street food. Though these tend to be not so healthy still these food are being consumed daily by a large number of people for their mouth watering tastes. Few mentionable street food are Puchka, Jhalmuri, Chotputi, Badam. Among these the most popular one is Puchka. They are made from dough that itself is called Puchka. These doughs are meant to be very thin, crispy and round shaped hollow balls. Different stuffings of potatoes, coriander and other spices are put inside. It is eaten with turmeric sauce.