Growing up all over West Bengal, and some parts of Bihar, in a Bengali household I learnt one thing, Bengalis love to eat, feed others and cook (at least Bong women do).
That they love to eat and are connoisseurs in this matter is proved by the fact that Kolkata is teeming with all The Madras Tiffins, the Punjabi Dhabas, the Tibetan Delights, the Chinese Chow Chow and the Timbuktu Taverns. No where else in India will you see such a fare. All other regions mostly are focused and stick to their cuisine but Kolkata has it all.
So growing up amongst such a race it’s natural that I love to eat and to make my food dreams into reality have taken to loving cooking my food. I get solace in cooking, the comfort of the spices sputtering in the oil, the waft of the jeera & tejpata as they turn brown, the rich yellow of my musuri’r dal gives me peace, makes me calm and in this far off land makes me connect to my home.
I start this blog as an acknowledgement to my Ma, Dida, mom-in-law and all the mashis-pishis, kakimas-jethimas who fed me well, fed me good all my years in India. This will be a humble collection of Bengali recipes and the food I cook representing Bengali Cuisine as I know it.
I want to pass on my legacy of Bengali food to my two little daughters and all the other little ones out there who growing up in a foreign land will find a way to connect to their Bangla roots through the smell and taste of Bangla cuisine.
This is also for all non-Bongs, to try out and sample the nuances of Bengali Cooking.
Many of my recipes might not be authentic bong and have innovations thrown in, but do go ahead and give them a try. So welcome to my blog and have a feast...
I am available for freelance writing, food or otherwise. Contact me for detailed information
My article on Bengali Cuisine
Though I would love to, I am usually not very prompt checking my blog e-mails since I have a real life that demands a lot of attention. So if I am not responding to your comments or replying e-mails please try to understand.
To browse through recipes in this blog check out the recipe index page at
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1 hour ago
53 comments:
Hi Sandeepa, welcome to the world of blogging. My first time here. :) You have a great blog. Keep going !!!!! :)
thanks for your encouraging words.
Keep visiting, hope to post more soon
Hi Sandeepa,
By far and now, you seem to be very relaxed, by the rich presentations, notes and collections. Iam into this blog world just months ago and wish pleased to see your site! Will keep visint often, as you are in my blog roll to frequent, happy cooking!!
What a lovely write-up Sandeepa. Enjoyed reading it. Great blog. Keep it up. Just hope that it will also take a cookbook avataar some day.
Hi...really liked ur blog.....its good to see how u match the simpe daal with thai curry. Will try some of the recipes for sure, specially the malpoa.....:)
Hi Sandeepa,
First of all, your blog is great! Thank you for offering so many delicious recipes!
I've noticed your entries can not be hilighted and "copied". Can you please tell me how you did this, so that I can do it for my own blog as well? This is really a great feature for copyright protection.
Thank you so much!
Hi Sandeepa, I'm really entralled with your blog and not just with the recipes (which are fabulous) but also the stuff you write generally (e.g., the first job in Mumbai away from the hometown - I've been through that too!). I'm a Marwari married to a Bengali and we are living in London at present - so it's like you say in your blog - the fragrances and flavours of Indian cooking are just one way of connecting with home. I've only just discovered the wonderful world of Indian food blogs because I'm on a short break from a rather hectic career so scrolling through blogs like yours is quite therapeutic. My Bong husband sure is pleased with the couple of dishes I've tried so far from your blog! Keep the creative juices flowing!
HI, Thanks so much for finding the tiem to blog. I'm guyanese (west indian )and recently married to an Indian hubby from Mumbai. I'm trying to mix up our two styles of cooking, and the bok choi recipe is right on the spot!He didn't even know what bok choiwas and I had no clue about masoor dal. Thanks so much, when i open my east/west indian food restaurant you'll be the fist one invited!!!joking
Thanks again>>Jen
Hi Sandeepa,
I love your blog! I work for Haldiram's USA and would love to speak with you about advertising on your site. Please get in touch: stephanie@ethnickitchens.com
Hope to hear from you soon
Stephanie
Hey this is a nice intro...I am searching net for authentic bong recipes..and surprise surprise..I land here...what better way to cook bong than from the host's own space!...I have noted down few ..let me see how it will come up!..
Your recipe for "Mango Dal" was brief and to the point. Thank you. I am new to blogging and want my comments posted in the page for "Tak Dal"
1. Musoor dal is easily available. In many parts of India Matar dal name is unknown.
2. The mango pieces can be precooked in water and the water drained off to remove the "kas" or bitterness.
3. Adding sweet is a must for Bongs. But for those who want to cut down may use sugar substitutes like "Sugar Free Natura" . Warning: Sugar Free Gold is not suitable for cooking purpose! You may help to transfer my comments to the correct page of your website
Hi friends,
This is Shriya & Nithu of SpicyTasty.com. We have hosted a foodie event in our website, "FORTUNE COOKING" and would like to invite you to participate in that. Fortune Cooking Contest is an interesting mix of zodiac signs & food and you stand to win a Jewelry set or $25 Amazon gift card.we hope to see your participation and thanks for taking the time to read my message
Regards,
Shriya&Nithu
Hi,
Just visited your Blog as I was looking up for Bangla recipes.
Really appreciate.
Thanks
Suparna
Glad I found your blog. I'm an American married to a Bangali and we both love to eat! Some of his family is coming over this weekend for a barbeque. I'm grilling trout and shrimp kabobs and HAVE to make masoor dal (hubby's fav) and bhat.
I'm also going to try your Ada Fulkopi recipe. He said my first attempt at fulkopi dalna was just okay because I didn't use enough oil. Oops, guess I'm too health conscious sometimes. Anyway, look forward to trying your recipes! Can you recommend any that are quick and easy?
wonderful presentation. I am a tamilian married to a bong, and based out of sydney. Made your chingri malai curry recipe ...its turned out delicious. Check this blog ..it has recollections and recipes from my mom. Whole lot of yummy tamil recipes ...
Chitra Amma's kitchen
http://chitra-ammas-kitchen.blogspot.com/
Hi Sandeepa, what a great blog. I am inspired by you. Keep going .
Hi Sandeepa,
I too grew up in Kolkata. So am very sentimental about Bengali food and street food.
I want to print out your recipe for Maacher Kalia and Khejur gurer payesh for my personal cooking sessions.
Just wanted your permission for that.
Also khejur gur is not available in Mumbai where I live now. How do I prepare it at home ?
Hey Sandeepa. I'm a new blogger and am trying to get into the DesiMomz club, and sent you an email regarding it. Not sure if you received it or not. How do I join?
Hey Sandeeepa,
Can you send me your email id? Thanks!
happy durga pooja to you and your family, dear Sandeepa.
Hi, I have just started blogging. I was thinking about writing about bengali food, when I stumbled uopn your blog.
Simply amazing!!! to see such colorful recipies.
Hope you will give your footsteps on my blog called Logi-call at http://logi-call.blogspot.com/ soon to give me some inspiration.
Hi Sandeepa,
This does not have any relevance to your post but I could not get another email address for you.
This is to request you to find the time to take a look at my food blog http://thecookscottage.typepad.com I have been writing it since 2005.( There is a long standing link on it to your blog BTW)
Every few months I have had posts of mine copied wholesale by one paper or another. The latest, and for the third time in a row, is The Times of India group. They published a piece today which was a straight lift from something I had written in May 2006.The proof is there on the blog in the form of photographs. Please follow the links as well so you will know some of the history of their ongoing plagiarism.
My blog is not high prose...nor is it fantastically creative. Nevertheless we all own our words and photographs, published, as they are, not for money but, for the sheer joy of writing about what interests us.
I would be very grateful if you could log onto the site and support me by leaving a comment. It will be immensely helpful for a prospective battle against this very arrogant Goliath.
I note your banner against Plagairism and hope you will help out,
Kind regards
Please help me to find out how to cook mangsher ghugni :-))
Hello Sandeepa,
I absolutely looooove your site and your take on masoor dal with bok choy was a winner when I tried it....very cool idea.
I have posted a few recipes, which I'll share with you soon.
I am from NJ too and have a 5-yr old daughter...:) Keep up the great work! There are many recipe sites but an authentic one like yours is a rarity!
Hello Sandeepa, I am a Gujarati-American mom of a 1-year old, married to a Bengali. I love food, but am new to Bengali food (as of 5 years now). I want to be able to make foods that my hubby loves from his childhood and also for my son to enjoy both his Gujarati and Bengali heritage. Your blog is amazing! I have now made a couple of your recipes and my hubby thinks they're as good as his mom's! Now that's a compliment!! Your blog is inspiring and I hope you continue for a long time to come! Thanks!
could you pls help me out. i don't understand bengali. and there is this wonderful recipe of kala jamun on this site. i would like it if you could pls pls translate it in English for me. pls . thanks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHVnh25Vpvw&feature=related
Sarita
I am sure there are more kala jamun recipes out there, it is not that it is some patented bengali thing. I am sure you will find it in any other language too
Even then if you want it, where do I reach you ?
sandeepa i know there are more kala jamun recipes but none turned out good. this one looks fantastic. if you can, pls translate and email me at vlmi@excite.com thanks a lot
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I dont know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Kaylee
http://grillsblog.com
Hi Sandeepa
Such a lovely way to put words to your feelings.
I am a closet cook and not that bad i guess. your blog is an inspiration. Maybe i will take some time out from working, cooking and feeding and make one of mine.
Keep in up
simone
Hi,
awesome blog. I had not touched either the "khunti" or the "istiri" during grad school days. reading your blogs, i am now a fully fledged cook who can feed 20 people with half a day's notice :) thank you very much.
~ Brishti ~
Hi Sandeepa,
I tried ur bhapa doi recipe.
It was just excellent.
Happy blogging . God bless u.
Regards
Partha
Hi,
Came across your blog when I was struggling with bong cooking. I am a bong who's moved to the US and hates cooking and loves bong food. So I had to step into the kitchen. You blog has been a life saver. God bless you. and after reading your 'why I blog' I am trying to find the same solace that you wrote about.
Keep the good cooking up!
Cheers,
Ipsita
Hi, I loved your blog, and from kolkata too. Today Iam making Hyderabadi Murag for dinner. I have a blog too but it's book blog, if you get time visit me sometime, at "I Read" at http://sumanam.wordpress.com/
I think i will be a regular here for the recipes..
Great feeling to find your blog. I grew up in Orissa in a bangali household and now I'm a bit of a wanderer based in UK with two boys, a husband and a dog. Cooking bangali seems to calm the soul at the end of a long day. It goes well with the boys. You've a good inspiration to move on...
Sandeepa, I love the concept of writing smthg down which you can pass on to your daughters. I started my blog a few weeks ago bec I had learnt how to cook from the women in my family, but unfortunately, they never wrote anything down. I think it's a lovely idea to document everything for your children. This winter when I am in Karachi, I hope to get my mother-in-law's recipes which she has scrawled in a notebook. My father was posted to Dhaka in the late 90's, so I am familiar with Bengali cuisine, I especially like the way you prepare your prawn dishes. Lovely, lovely site. Best wishes.
Thanks for the lovely bangla recipe,I'm glad to know them
Dear Sandeepa,
Great blog. Definitely keep it up.
What kind of a wet grinder do you use and where did you get it?
Would appreciate if you shared the information.
Anon
Thanks
I have a Magic Bullet Blender(http://www.buythebullet.com/) which serves all my purpose. I do not do much heavy grinding except for the regular masala pastes
very nice blog....I guess i'm first time here, will be back to read some of your recipes...
hello
just made some fresh turmeric pickle and i want to thank you sooooo much for taking the time to share your knowledge with the world at large. may peace and health be with you and your family
Hi, bong mom...your blog is very interesting...and informative too..have just begun blogging and coincidentally its a food blog. Also am part Bong since have been married to one for 13 years now! I feel the way you express about food too...I love a simple musuri dal with sizzling paanch phoren on the top; beats a gourmet meal any day!!
Hello Bong Mom! I absolutely love your blog! I have just recently put together my own blog and would like to ask you for your advice on how to copyright the text and pictures on my blog. Any guidance you can provide would be much appreciated!
Thank you,
Geeta
Hi Bong-mom!I'm a Bong married to a Punjabi.I had a chance encounter wid ur blog & I'm just lovin' it!I've read some of ur fantastic recipes & m so glad I came across ur blog!Keep up da good work!I'll try ada phoolkophi dalna soon.
Regards,
Esha
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Found your blog while trying to figure out what to do with the lau lying in my fridge and I am overjoyed !!! Living in the Northeast as well, with severe Bangali food cravings, I am positive this blog will serve me well. Definitely subscribing to your blog, and look forward to lots and lots of "taratari ranna" for the homesick bangali soul :)
Hi, I love your blog and refer to your recipes as some sort of standard when I need to find a Bengali recipe. Today I found this link while searching for bori. http://www.habijabi.in/Bottle%20gourd%20and%20bori
Have they not plagiarized your content word for word? Thief and a lazy thief too. Huh!
this kind of blog always useful for blog readers, it helps people during research. your post is one of the same for blog readers.
Hi Bong Mom,
I am a mom of half-bongs and the wife of a full bong! I am a bit isolated and always in need of good recipes. I am trying your bhaja dal with shrimp and cauliflower today. I have had this made by my shashoori and your recipe looks really great. I'll let you know how it turns out!
Best regard, Jen Das
Nice one and interesting information on cooking but I think we should share this information to other Muslims too and I know a exact link where we can share it. If you are interested than visit the link.
Kolkata is also famous for its Kachchi Biryani (Not the Hyderabadi version); is it possible to get the authentic recipe?
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