7 Vegetarian Dishes from Bengal: Bengali cuisine, predominantly known for its exquisite fish and sweet delicacies, has a lesser-known side to it. Vegetarian dishes form an essential part of the cuisine, often overlooked but filled with delightful flavors that would please any food lover. Here are seven vegetarian delights from Bengal that the rest of India should definitely know about:
7 Best Vegetarian Dishes from Bengal
Shukto
A traditional Bengali dish that serves as a palate cleanser, Shukto is a mixed vegetable dish that has a unique bitter-sweet flavor. It is typically served at the beginning of a meal and is prepared with different vegetables, bitter gourd being a primary ingredient. It also includes bori (sun-dried lentil dumplings) and is flavored with panch phoron (a blend of five spices) and a dash of milk.
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Potoler Dolma
Potol’er Dolma is a Bengali version of stuffed pointed gourd. This delightful dish involves scooping out the seeds of pointed gourd and stuffing it with a spiced mixture of paneer or grated coconut. It is then simmered in a light, subtly spiced gravy, creating a dish that’s full of diverse textures and flavors.
Mochar Ghonto
Made from banana blossoms, Mochar Ghonto is a classic Bengali dish, which despite being time-consuming to prepare, is loved for its distinct taste. The banana blossoms are finely chopped, boiled, and then cooked with grated coconut, potatoes, and aromatic spices, offering an explosion of flavors with every bite.
Bhapa Aloo
Bhapa Aloo is a simple yet delicious dish that celebrates the humble potato. Baby potatoes are marinated with mustard paste, green chilies, and coconut paste, then steamed (or bhapa, as referred to in Bengali) to perfection. This dish is a testament to the fact that minimal ingredients, when used correctly, can create extraordinary flavors.
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Dhokar Dalna
A staple in Bengali households, Dhokar Dalna is a lentil cake curry. The lentil cakes, or dhoka, are made from a mixture of chana dal and spices, which are then deep-fried and simmered in a rich, spicy gravy. This dish is a perfect blend of textures, with the soft dhoka complementing the robust gravy.
Panchmishali Tarkari
A medley of seasonal vegetables, Panchmishali Tarkari, is a simple yet nutritious Bengali dish. The choice of vegetables varies based on the season, making it a dynamic dish throughout the year. The vegetables are cooked together with panch phoron and a mix of other spices to create a dish that’s flavorful and comforting.
Chhanar Dalna
Chhanar Dalna is a paneer (cottage cheese) curry that is slightly different from the usual paneer dishes. The paneer is crumbled, mixed with a bit of flour and spices, and shaped into small balls or discs before being lightly fried. These are then cooked in a tangy tomato-based gravy, offering a delicious variation to regular paneer dishes.
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These 7 best vegetarian dishes from Bengal offer a wide array of flavors, showcasing the depth and diversity of the cuisine. It’s high time that these dishes take the culinary center stage, allowing food lovers across India to explore and appreciate the vegetarian aspect of Bengali cuisine.
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