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Durga Puja is the biggest festival of Bengali
Hindus.
The worship of Durga in the autumn is the year's largest Hindu
festival, Orissa, Tripura, Assam, Jharkhand and other parts of East
India as well as in Bangladesh. Durga Puja is also celebrated in
Nepal and Bhutan according to local traditions and variations. Puja
means "worship," and Durga's Puja is celebrated from the sixth to
tenth day of the waxing moon in the month of 'Ashwin',
In Kolkata alone more than ten thousand pandals are set up, all
clamouring for the admiration and praise of the populace. The city
is adorned with lights. People from all over the country visit the
city at this time, and every night is one great carnival where
thousands of people go 'pandal-hopping' with their friends and
family. Traffic becomes a nightmare, and indeed, most people abandon
their vehicles to travel by foot after a point .
For more information
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# Aamer Chutney
# Aloo Bhaja
# Aloo Posto
# Aloo Pyajer Chorchori
# Aloor Dum
# Bandhakopir Dolna
# Bandhakopir Tarkari
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# Beguni
# Bhapa Doi
# Bhoger Khichuri
# Chhanar Payesh
# Chholar Dal
# Chinir Narkel Naru
# Sukto
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Aamer Chutney |
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Preparation Time : 50 minutes
Serves : 8
Ingredients : |
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Raw Mangoes – 1 ¾ kg
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Vegetable Oil – ¼ cup
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Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
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Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
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Salt – ½ tsp
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Water – 1 cup
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Sugar – 5 cups
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Method : |
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Peel and cut the raw mangoes into 2½ cm pieces.
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Heat oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds and let
them crackle.
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Add turmeric powder, mangoes and salt. Mix
well, add water and stir.
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Cook for about 20 minutes.
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Turn the heat on high and add sugar. Keep
stirring till sugar dissolves, and chutney thickens (approx. 3
minutes).
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Refrigerate and serve chilled.
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Aloo Bhaja |
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Preparation Time : 25 minutes
Serves : 2
Ingredients : |
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Potatoes - 2
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Turmeric Powder -1 tsp
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Method : |
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Wash and cut potatoes along with skin into fine
slices.
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Rub in salt and turmeric powder.
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Heat oil in a skillet.
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Fry potatoes over medium heat till golden.
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Serve hot with rice and dal.
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Aloo Posto |
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Preparation Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4
Ingredients : |
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Potatoes - 3
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Onion - 1
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Poppy Seeds – 3 tbsp
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Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
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Chili Powder – 1 tsp
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Salt - to taste
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Method : |
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Grind poppy seeds with water to make a paste.
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Wash and peel potatoes. Cut potatoes and onion
into 1 inch cubes.
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Heat oil in a pan. Add potatoes and onions.
Stir fry till potatoes turn golden.
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Add salt, turmeric, chili powder and stir.
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Stirring occasionally, cover and cook till
potatoes are done. Sprinkle water if required.
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Add the poppy seed paste and mix well.
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Stirring continuously cook till poppy seeds
turn light brown and the dish is dry.
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Serve hot with rice and dal.
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Aloo Pyajer Chorchori |
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Preparation Time : 35 minutes
Serves : 4
Ingredients : |
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Potatoes -5
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Onions - 4
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Green Chilies – 4-6
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Turmeric Powder – 2 tsp
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Chili Powder – ½ tsp
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Salt - to taste
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Method : |
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Wash, peel and cut potatoes in halves,
lengthwise and then sliced into 1 inch pieces crosswise.
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Cut onions in halves lengthwise and then slice
thicker than normal. Wash and slit the green chilies.
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Heat oil in a pan. Add potatoes and fry till
they turn opaque.
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Reduce heat and add onions. Fry for a few
minutes.
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Add turmeric, chili powder and salt to taste.
Mix thoroughly. Add green chilies.
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Add a little water if the curry gets too dry.
Stir till the potatoes are cooked and the gravy thickens.
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Serve hot with rice, luchi, or paratha.
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Aloor Dum |
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Preparation Time : 40 minutes
Serves : 6
Ingredients : |
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Baby New Potatoes – 500g
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Yoghurt – 1 cup
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Chili Powder – 1 tsp
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Green Chilies – 2-3
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Tomato Purée – 2 tbsp
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Ginger Paste – 1 tsp
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Cinnamon Stick – 1 inch
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Method : |
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Boil and peel whole potatoes.

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Roast cumin seeds and grind it in pestle and
mortar.
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Heat oil in a frying pan. Add cardamom,
cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf.
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Sauté till it splutters.
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Add potatoes. Fry till golden brown. Add tomato
purée and stir.
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Mix chili powder and ginger paste in yoghurt
and add to the potatoes. Stir in salt and sugar.
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Add green chilies. Boil until gravy thickens
and potatoes are cooked.
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Sprinkle with ground-fried cumin and remove
from heat.
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Garnish with cilantro leaves.
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Serve with luchi or paratha.
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Bandhakopir Dolna |
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Preparation Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4
Ingredients : |
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Method : |
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Wash, peel and cut the potatoes in cubes. Wash
and chop the cabbage.
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Wash and chop green chilies and cilantro.
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Heat oil in a wok. Add potatoes and fry until
lightly browned. Remove from oil and keep aside.
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To the hot oil add cabbage. Sprinkle with salt.
Stir and cover. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
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Remove cover. Add turmeric powder, chili
powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and ginger paste. Stir and
cook until the spices are well blended with the cabbage.
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Add potatoes and ½ cup water. Add salt and
sugar to taste. Cook over medium heat until potatoes are cooked and
the gravy dries up.
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Heat butter in a pan. Add bay leaves, garam
masala and sauté. Pour over the cabbage. Stir and remove from heat.
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Garnish with chopped cilantro.
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Serve hot with rice or roti.
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Bandhakopir Tarkari |
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Preparation Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4
Ingredients : |
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Method : |
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Chop the cabbage. Cut potatoes into 2 cm cubes.
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Heat oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds, dry red
chili, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and sauté till it
sputters.
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Add potatoes and fry till golden brown.
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Add ginger paste, turmeric powder, chili powder
and salt. Fry for 30 seconds.
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Add chopped cabbage and green peas.
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Add a little water. Cover and cook for 15-20
minutes, stirring occasionally.
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Add sugar and cook for another minute.
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Add ghee and garam masala powder. Stir to mix.
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Serve hot with rice or roti.
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Beguni |
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Preparation Time : 15 minutes
Serves : 2
Ingredients : |
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Onion Seeds – ½ tsp
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Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
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Salt - to taste
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Method : |
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Cut the aubergine lengthwise. The pieces should
be half cm thick.
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Rub salt and turmeric on the pieces.
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Mix gram flour, salt, chili powder, onion seeds
with water to make a thick smooth batter.
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Heat oil in a pan. Dip aubergine pieces in the
batter and deep fry.
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Remove from oil and place on absorbent towel to
drain excess oil.
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Serve hot along with tea.
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Bhapa Doi |
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Serves : 6
Ingredients : |
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Yoghurt – 500 g
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Condensed Milk – 4 cup
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Almonds – 8-10
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Raisins – 1 tbsp
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Sugar - to taste
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Method : |
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Chop the almonds.
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Mix yoghurt, condensed milk and sugar in an
ovenproof bowl.
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Microwave for 4 minutes.
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Garnish with almonds and raisins.
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Refrigerate and serve chilled.
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Bhoger Khichuri |
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Preparation Time : 50 minutes
Serves : 8
Ingredients : |
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Method : |
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Peel the potatoes. Cut cauliflower, potatoes
and tomatoes into big pieces and wash. Wash and slice the green
chilies.
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Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan. Fry green gram and
keep aside.
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Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a pan. Fry rice and keep
aside.
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Marinate the potatoes and cauliflower with salt
and turmeric powder.
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Heat mustard oil in a pan. Add the marinade and
green peas. Fry until golden brown.
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Take a large utensil with considerable depth.
Fill it half with water. Heat the water. Add green gram and boil
until softened.
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Add rice. Add the fried potatoes, cauliflower,
green peas. Add turmeric powder, bay leaves and green chilies and
continue boiling till rice has softened.
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Add salt and sugar. Cook till all the water has
evaporated and the cereal and pulse forms a thick mixture.
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Heat the rest of the ghee in a pan. Add
tomatoes, bay leaves, white cumin, turmeric powder, ginger paste,
green chilies and sauté. Add this to the cereal and pulse mixture.
Add garam masala powder on top.
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Garnish with grated coconut.
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Serve hot with beguni.
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Chhanar Payesh |
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Preparation Time : 50 minutes
Serves : 6
Ingredients : |
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Cottage Cheese – 500 g
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Milk – 1 litre
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Ghee – 4 tbsp
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Saffron Strands – 25-30
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Sugar – 750 g
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Method : |
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Combine saffron with 4 tbsp boiling milk and
leave to steep for 10 minutes.
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Cut cottage cheese into thin slices.
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Heat ghee in a pan. Add cottage cheese and fry
till light brown. Set aside.
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Boil milk on low heat, stirring continuously
for 15 minutes.
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Add sugar and boil for 5 minutes.
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Add cottage cheese and simmer for 3 minutes.
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Remove from heat and cool. Add saffron with the
soaking milk.
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Refrigerate and serve chilled.
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Chholar Dal |
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Preparation Time : 30 minutes
Serves : 2
Ingredients : |
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Bengal Gram – 100 g
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Tomato - 1
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Coconut – 15 g
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Green Chilies - 3
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Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
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Ginger Paste – 1 tsp
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Method : |
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Chop the coconut into small pieces. Wash and
cut the tomato into 8 pieces.
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Wash and chop the green chilies.
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Soak bengal gram in water for half an hour. Add
double the amount of water and pressure cook with salt and turmeric
powder for one whistle.
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Heat ghee in a pan. Add bay leaf, cumin, and
coconut. Stir fry till coconut is light brown.
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Add tomato and ginger paste. Sauté for 2
minutes. Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, green chilies and
sauté till ghee separates.
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Add the boiled gram, salt and sugar. Simmer for
4-5 minutes.
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Garnish with cilantro leaves.
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Serve hot with luchi.
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Chinir Narkel Naru |
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Preparation Time : 35 minutes
Serves : 6
Ingredients : |
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Milk - 1 litre
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Ground Coconut – 2½ cups
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Method : |
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Oil the inner surfaces of a pan. Pour milk in
the pan and boil for 20-30 minutes till milk thickens to a
consistency of whipped cream.
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Stir frequently to keep the foam down and
scrape the bottom and sides of the pan.
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Add coconut and sugar. Stirring frequently,
cook for 8-10 minutes until the mixture acquires a thick and doughy
consistency.
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Remove from heat and let it cool a little.
While still a little warm, divide the dough and roll into balls of
¾-1 inch diameter.
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Serve at room temperature.
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Sukto |
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Preparation Time : 45 minutes
Serves : 6
Ingredients : |
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Potatoes - 2
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Pointed Gourd – 150 g
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Aubergine – 3 small
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Drumsticks - 3
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Green Banana – 1
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Raw Papaya – 1 small
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Bitter Gourd - 1
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Bori – ½ cup
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Panch Phoron – 1½ tsp
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Dry Chilies - 2
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Bay Leaf - 1
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Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
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Ginger Paste – 1 tsp
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Milk – 2 tbsp
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Mustard – 3 tbsp
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Sugar – 1 tsp
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Salt - to taste
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Method : |
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Wash and peel potatoes, pointed gourds and
drumsticks, green bananas and raw papaya.
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Wash aubergines and bitter gourd. Cut all
vegetables into 1½ inch pieces.
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Grind mustard to paste.
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Heat oil in a pan. Add bori and fry till golden
brown. Remove bori and keep aside.
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Add potatoes, pointed gourds, aubergines,
bitter gourd, green bananas and raw papaya to oil. Fry till light
brown. Remove vegetables and keep aside.
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Add panch phoron, dry chilies and bay leaf to
oil and let it sputter. Add all the fried vegetables and drumsticks.
Sauté for a minute over low heat.
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Add salt and turmeric powder. Mix well. Add
water and bori. Cover and cook till vegetables are done.
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Stir in mustard paste, ginger paste, sugar and
milk. Cook uncovered for another minute.
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Serve hot with rice.
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