Macher Mathar Charchari/ Dry Type Fish Head Curry

Fish head is never left out or get wasted in Bengali households. Not everyone in the family likes to savor fish head like fish pieces but some would always enjoy its finger licking deliciousness. I love fish head(not all types of fish head) since my childhood in Macher Jhol, Murighonto/Fish Head Curry, Mung Beans, Mixed vegetables and whatnot. It can be cooked very lusciously with aromatic spices or with just simple basic ingredients. 

Salad Nicoise

Salad Nicoise(niˈswaz), a French creation that looks like a fancy restaurant style salad is easy to prepare at home with seasonal vegetables and fish. I make this decadent salad all year round in different ways, vegan, fish-seafood and chicken versions. The classic Salad Nicoise from the city of Nice, France is not a tossed salad rather a composed salad consisting boiled potato, blanched haricots verts, tomato, capers, olives, boiled eggs, canned tuna on a bed of lettuce and dressed with extra virgin olive oil, red wine-lemon-Dijon vinaigrette. 

Sabur Khichuri/Tapioca Pearl Mishmash

Sabur Khichuri is another comforting meal in Bengali households especially during Durga Pooja. People who observe fasting for any Hindu ritual, consume grain free pure vegetarian Satvik food afterwards. Bengali Sabur Khichuri is very different than Sabudana Khichdi from other states of India which is dry type. This one uses roasted mung bean along with veggies like cauliflower, potato, carrot, peas, green beans and peas etc.This no onion and no garlic recipe. The aroma of the roasted mung bean and the sauteed veggies with spices takes me down to memory lane. It tastes divine as is. You can always add fried eggplant, Papad and sweet chutney with it! Try this Sabur Khichuri. This is absolute one dish wonder whether fasting or not. 

Panta Bhat/Fermented Rice

We love rice in any form, be it Pilaf, Fried Rice, Baked Rice, Biriyani, simple plain rice and Panta Bhat/fermented rice. I have shared some rice dishes and Panta Bhat was in my bucket list to post since last summer. Finally I made it after a long time some weeks ago. Honestly, I didn't grow up eating Panta Bhat that much. People who eat rice for dinner and leftover rice is kept outside soaking in water for fermentation that is served as breakfast or brunch along with some fritters, pickle, green chilies etc. We rarely had rice at night. When we had it once in a blue moon, Ma soaked leftover rice overnight outside for the next day's brunch with fritters and mashed lentil. 

Stir Fried Smelt Fish/Smelt Macher Charchari

Macher Charchari is an absolute charred deliciousness to die for and it is made with seasonal vegetables along with generous amount of onion and garlic sometimes. Bengali cuisine has very unique names of cooking methods for vegtarian dish and non-vegetarian dish, such as jhal. jhol, kosha, ghonto, ghyat, bhaja, pora, labra and last but not least chorchori or charchari. Today's post is Charchari and it's a Bengali delicacy with dry type charred mixed vegetables dish or sometimes veggies mixed with small fish and fish head. 

Chicken Jambalaya

We love this Louisiana specialty Chicken Jambalaya, a comforting one dish meal with rice, chicken, smoked Andouille sausage(pork free) and some veggies in a slightly tangy tomato, garlic and herb sauce is so easy to prepare, great for week night dinner and any big crowd. Its perfect seasonings and little spicy kick makes a very satisfying meal for all chicken lovers.

Sabudana Khichdi/ Sago/Tapioca Pearl Pilaf

Sabudana khichdi is an easy and very popular Indian savory dish made with soaked sago/tapioca pearl, roasted peanuts and slightly spiced sauteed potato, served for breakfast, tea time snack and during Hindu rituals who observe fasting in the state of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and some other states. Sago or tapioca pearl is an acquired taste that is nicely balanced its chewy texture with crunchy peanuts and stir fried spiced potato mixture. This recipe makes 3-4 servings and it is satvik vegan, meaning no ghee, onion and garlic are used. 

Omelette and Potato Curry In Bengali Style

Egg curry is served as a main dish with rice or flat bread in many regional styles in the Indian households, especially when there is not enough grocery left, not felling like cooking but takeout food from restaurant is not an option. Egg in various curries, be it boiled, steamed, scrambled or omelette, is always to the rescue. Egg curry is more affordable protein than fish or meat and a quick fix meal solution to lunch or dinner with minimal ingredients. What more could you ask for?

Green Chili Chicken Curry in Bengali Style

Have you ever cooked chicken curry with tomatillo? I make Green Chili Chicken Curry using this foreign fruit/vegetable in Bengali style and it turns out absolutely irresistible. It is a nice change from gorom mashala flavor and tomato based chicken curry. It's hearty and flavorful curry inspired by Mexican Chicken Chile Verde with roasted tomatillos, Indian spices, Thai chilies, onion, ginger, garlic and cilantro. I love its tangy flavor and beautiful green color with the addition of fresh blended cilantro/coriander leaves at the end.  

Doi Murgi/Chicken in Yogurt Sauce

A traditional Bengali chicken curry with full of finesse simmered in a flavorful yogurt based gravy. It's a wonderful amalgamation of tangy yogurt, aromatic spices, ginger-garlic, caramelized onion and the pungent mustard oil. The nice color of the curry from sweet paprika, fresh red chili and turmeric is a perfect feast for the eyes and the flavorful curry will surely satisfy the taste buds. 

Macher Jhal/Spicy Fish Curry

This is a super tasty Bengali fish curry. "Jhal" in Bengali means fiery but it can be adjusted as per heat tolerance. The secret to the fiery color of this curry is from the mixture of crushed red tomatoes, paprika, turmeric and a little touch of fresh red hot chili pepper without making it hot. Frying the spices another important step to make this curry fragrant. The tang from tomato and sweetness from onion are wonderfully balanced. This is an easy recipe worth trying for fish lover. I made with fresh tilapia steaks but any bone-in white fish like carp, catfish, bass, halibut etc. will be great choice as well. Enjoy with plain rice.