Chicken is simple to cook. If you put your mind to it then a delicious, genuinely Indian chicken dish is not that tough. Of course, there are some basics to cooking chicken Indian style. First, boneless chicken does not work - lose the bones and you'll have a weak tasteless gravy. Second, the skin has... Continue Reading →
The Bitter End
Bongs are very fond of bitterness. I'm not talking attitude or psychology; this is something that's far more important to the bhadrolok - food, or more specifically the first course at lunch. Now the whole business of a bong lunch is ridiculously elaborate. The full ceremonial version, usually served when someone is dead, goes to... Continue Reading →
Go Bananas
Kolkata is always an indulgence in food. It helps, of course, that my aunt is both keen and competent as a cook. Bengali food is all about simple spice combinations and exotic vegetables. Given that Bengal is full of banana trees, it isn't unexpected that banana florets - which we call mocha - is on... Continue Reading →
Canned Spuds
Atkins made the potato severely unfashionable, but it hasn't become any less tasty. If you're in the mood for some rapid fire food and can't be bothered with the elaboration of a full Indian dinner, there's nothing like the potato to rescue the day. Life was much better in America, I discovered, because potatoes came... Continue Reading →
Bong Palak
Spinach comes in cans too, but by far the better spinach is the one that comes in frozen bricks. My personal feeling - sacrilegous, Im sure - is that this spinach seems to taste better than most grocery-fresh spinach that I buy. The problem - thawing. You can't microwave them without turning them half into... Continue Reading →
Fishing in Bengali
Everyone always thinks of mustard fish when Bengal comes to mind. Of course, Bengal has many kinds of fish and many uses for mustard oil (it controls dandruff too, did you know) but somehow the two are forever united in everyone's mind. When my friend landed up yesterday, that was on his mind too, so... Continue Reading →
The Well Fed Bong 