Kalai Dal Chingri Diye/White Lentil with Shrimp

Kalai dal(not sure what it is called in english) or urad dal is an integral part of Bengali cuisine for the people who have their roots in West Bengal. Kalier dal and potato curry with poppy seeds paste are their best vegetarian comfort food with plain rice. My parents migrated from Bangladesh erstwhile East Bengal. This dal is not that popular for them at all. My ma prepared this with shrimp always, never its vegetarian version. This preparation is very  common for Bangal people(who migrated from Bangladesh).

Date and Pecan Bread

Date and Pecan Bread is my absolute favorite and it doesn't require any refined sugar. Mostly dates and little bit of molasses are used as sweetener. A warm piece of bread slightly buttered is my favorite way to enjoy it for breakfast or afternoon snack with tea of coffee. It can be serve as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It can be spiced with warm spices but I prefer vanilla. 

Assamese Black Sesame Chicken Curry(Til Diya Kukura Mangxo)

Assamese Black Sesame Chicken Curry is a very traditional dish that I learned from a Bengali friend I met through a social media platform. Black sesame is widely used in many recipes from sweet to savory dishes in northeast India. The star ingredient is toasted black sesame seeds resulting in a nutty, smokey flavorful chicken curry. Each household has their own method of making to suit their taste buds. This is mildly spiced and I prepare with onion,garlic, ginger and lemon juice.  

Chirer Polao/Bengali Style Flattened Rice Pilaf

An easy, tasty and very satisfying Chirer Polao deliciously brings together different veggies, peanuts, slightly aromatic warming spices and a touch of sweet note from raisins and sugar. It takes only half an hour to make with simple pantry ingredients. Flatten rice pilaf is called poha in other parts of India as a very popular breakfast and it is sold by street food vendors. They make it very savory with less veggies.  

Stir Fried Moringa Leaves

Moringa or drumstick tree is native to the Indian subcontinent, a super food with lots of health benefits and nutrients. Recently moringa got its popularity all over the world. Moringa powder is sold in health food stores but cooking fresh moringa is a delicacy. Fresh moringa leaves and flowers have a subtle flavor and slightly bitter taste and it can be used in so many tasty Bengali recipes.

Quinoa Pilaf with Lentil and Avocado

I am a big fan of quinoa and I always prepare it in various styles to have with grilled fish or chicken or just like that. This pilaf is so satisfying, colorful, delicious, and full of plant goodness that can be served as breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is my “go to” pilaf when I don't have enough veggies. It can be served cold as salad as well. 

Sorshe Tilapia Begun Diye/Mustard Tilapia With Eggplant

Mustard fish curry with eggplant is a signature dish in Bengali cuisine. The gravy is so delicious that it tastes great whatever fish you make it with. There are many versions of making mustard fish. This recipe is with Eggplant in mustard paste along with little bit of onion-garlic and tomato turns out super delicious with the pungent flavor of mustard oil.This recipe is very easy to prepare and it is served with plain rice often.

Salmon Niciose Salad

This year has been pretty challenging for everyone; but all our hope is not gone yet. We are thankful to be healthy and will get through these difficult times. Lets cheer to this holiday season!

Stir Fried Black Chickpeas

Stir Fried Black Chickpeas/Whole Bengal Gram is a simple Bengali salad type snack, full of flavor, seasoned with some dry spices. I grew up eating this spiced chickpeas as evening snack and it's very popular street food of India. Ours was always homemade and my mother would serve it with puffed rice. This is one of the healthiest snacks with full of fiber, protein and other vitamin and minerals that keeps fuller for longer.

Green Beans and Potato Curry

I love the smell of fresh green beans and small potatoes that reminds me a taste of winter in India. Ma used to make a simple curry with fresh young green beans and new potatoes often in winter months. This simple curry is very light, delicious and vegan that pairs perfectly with roti(hand made flat bread). I often make this comfort curry because I get these veggies all year round in my part of the world. All essential ingredients are just fridge and pantry staples.