Panta Ilish
This post is a part of #NewYearinApril Challenge. In this post I am going to write about some common foods that we eat during the Bangla new year day on 14th April. Bangla new year day is known as the Pohela Boishakh. These foods are common and found round the year. On the very first day of the Bangla year, many fairs are seen all over the country. New year fair is known as Boishakhi Mela. These foods are sold in Boishakhi Mela and people love to eat them. Especially, children and young people love them very much.
Panta Ilish:
Panta Ilish is the main and most popular food of Bangla new year day. The main items of Panta Ilish are rice and Hilsha/Ilish fish. Panta refers here to soaked rice. It is so much easy to make Panta Ilish that it may seem funny to you. But the story behind the Panta Ilish is very serious. I will tell you how to make the Panta Ilish first, and then the story behind it.
Recipe:
- Water
- Boiled rice
- Pieces of Hilsha fish
- Salt
- Green Chile
- Oil, pepper and turmeric powder to fry Hilsha fish
Soaked Rice
Hilsha Fish
Cook rice and soak it in water for some hours so that it becomes soft. Then fry the Hilsha fish. Finally, take soaked rice and fried fish together in a plate. And, your Panta Ilish is ready. This much easy.
Now the story behind it. During hot summer, farmers in our country love to eat cold soaked rice in the morning before going to the field for work. This was a popular break fast to our village people. Even now, many people eat soaked rice during hot days as it keeps our stomach and body cold. Farmers usually eat soaked rice with green chili, onion, and salt. But the modern people have added the Hilsha fish for celebration during the Bangla new year’ day. Now Panta Ilish has become a nation-wide tradition.
Jalebi/ Jilapi:
Festival means sweets. We eat various kinds of sweets and desserts during new year’ day. Among them, Jalebi gets the first place. Village people like to buy Jalebi from the Boishakhi Mela (fair) and love to eat them with their family members. Two types of Jalebis are common everywhere. Normally, jalebi soaked in molasses syrup were popular at the beginning. Later sugar-syrup soaked Jalebi got popularity.
Jalebi
Rasgulla:
Rasgulla is a very popular food item that is hold hugely during the first day of the Bangla new year. On this day business owner entertains their customers with Rasgulla and other sweets.
Rasgulla also known as Rosgulla
Goja:
Goja is a popular sweet snack sold on this day. Village people like this one very much. City people may get this food only in Boishakhi Fair on this day.
Goja
Murali:
Murali is another traditional food item sold in the Boishakhi Fair. Like the Jalebi, it can be made with either molasses or sugar. It is found round the year every where more or less.
Murali
Sesame balls:
Sesame balls are liked by children very much. If I get them, I try to buy and bring to my home for my family members. This is healthy also.
Sesame Balls
Moa:
This is made with puffed rice and molasses. During the Boishakhi Fair both children and adult people like to have this one.
Moa: made with puffed rice and molasses syrup
Chotpoti and Fuchka:
So far, we talked about sweet foods. At the end, we will talk about two spicy foods known as Chotpoti and Fuchka. Though these two foods are sold round the year, but, during any public gathering like Boishakhi Fair, you will find several shops selling Chotpoti and Fuchka. Young people love these two items very much. Various kinds spices, daal, and potato used to make these foods. Sweet tamarind juice is a must for these 2 foods.
Chotpoti
Fuchka Balls
I like to tag @SoniaK who may love to read this post from thousands miles away.
Note: This post will be included in the study guide of #FoodChallenge meet-up on April 16.
