Bengali Food - Ancient Cuisine of 2 Styles of Cooking and a Fish Stew Recipe of Hot Spice and Flavor

Bengali food is an ancient cuisine dating back to early Buddhism. It is made up of the cooking of West Bengal, which is part of India, and East Bengal, which is part of Bangladesh. In early Buddhist and Bengali writings of the 10th and 11th century, there is mention of the abundance of produce that could be derived from good agriculture.

Although rice is a staple food throughout Bengal, there are two distinct styles of Bengali cooking. In East Bengali food, there is great emphasis on fish and dal (a spicy bean stew that is a mainstay of the area). The food of West Bengal is distinguished by the liberal use of poppy seeds.

Much of the distinctive taste of Bengali food comes from the mustard plant and mustard oil. Mustard is used in three ways: The oil is used to fry foods, the greens are used as a cooked vegetable, and the seeds are crushed to make a hot spice.

Fish and prawns are very common in both cuisines. West Bengalis usually get their fish farm-raised from estuaries, while East Bengalis get the majority of their fish from the big rivers of the region.

This fish stew recipe uses ingredients and cooking techniques common to both West and East Bengal, and is very popular in both cuisines. Many Bengali cooks will add a couple of vegetables to the dish, such as eggplant and potatoes that are diced small. Some ingredients have been changed to accommodate Western availability.

Spicy Bengali Fish Stew

Ingredients:

Salt to taste

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon hot paprika

1 1/4 pounds cod, sea bass, or halibut steaks, cut into 2-inch cubes

3 tablespoons mustard oil (can be found in Indian or Bengali markets) or vegetable oil

4 medium onions, finely chopped

4 large garlic cloves, crushed

4 fresh green chiles (jalapenos or finger-like chiles), seeded and finely chopped

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cardamon

1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, cut in half, seeds squeezed out, and grated through the largest holes of a grater.

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup whole plain yogurt

Directions:

On a plate, mix together the salt, 1/4 teaspoon of the turmeric, and the paprika. Dredge the fish steaks on both sides of the mixture.

In a large skillet, heat the mustard oil (or vegetable oil) over medium-high heat. Brown the fish on both sides, turning once, for about 3 minutes total. Remove and set aside.

Add the onions and garlic to the skillet. Cook until soft, or about 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the chiles, cumin, mustard seeds, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring, then add the tomatoes, cilantro, and water. Reduce the heat to low, and cook until the sauce is thick, or about 15 minutes.

Add the yogurt and salt to taste and stir to blend. Return the fish to the skillet and simmer, covered, until the fish flakes, or about 10 minutes. Be careful that the broth never gets too hot, as the yogurt will separate. Serve immediately, over rice if desired.