Ilish bhapa to khichuri, best Bengali monsoon dishes you need to try

The monsoon season in Bengal is all about eating good and staying indoors. Fish lovers desperately wait for this season to prepare their favourite dishes, ilish bhapa and khichuri.

Updated on: Jun 28, 2021 9:44 AM IST

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Just like salmon, this anadromous fish also needs to complete its lifecycle from the sea to the river. The eggs hatch in freshwater and then come to spawn in the estuarine waters where the rivers meet the Bay of Bengal. They then move upstream into northern India and grow up to a size of 2.5 kg. Here are a few Bengali dishes that you need to try this monsoon. (Instagram)

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Pona or kucho maach: These seasonal fishes are small in size and are varieties of carp and catfish. It can be fried or made into curries and served with rice or khichuri. (Instagram/@sendebleena)

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Khichuri: Bengali's love their Khichuri with fried ilish. This quintessential monsoon meal is made with rice, dal and spices. There are many ways of preparing this dish. You can keep it simple or add vegetables like potatoes, peas and cauliflower pieces. (Instagram/@calcutta_with_photography)

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Chorchoris: Due to the flooding of the fields, vegetables are sold at higher rates during the rainy season. All Bengali households stay prepared and make chorchoris and labras. It comprises vegetables like pumpkin, potato, radish, brinjals as well as stalks and leaves. The savouring flavour of the dish comes from the mustard oil and paanch phoron. This is a perfect vegetarian side for khichuri. (Instagram/@foodshotsbykairos)

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Bhaja: If you have visited Kolkata, you must have seen a lot of stalls of begun bhaja (brinjal fry), aalu chop, lonkar chop on the streets. During this season, they cut vegetables like pumpkin or brinjal, batter it with chickpea flour and deep fry it. It goes best with khichuri but can also be eaten as an evening snack. (Instagram/@black.plate.saga)

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Ilish Bhapa: This monsoon treat, can be eaten steamed or fried and it tastes delicious either way. The traditional method of cooking is steaming it in banana leaves with the main ingredient, mustard seeds. The sweet flavour is connected to the spawning cycle of the fish. (Instagram/@2hungry_souls)

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Chutney: No meal is complete without chutney. From tomato khejur (dates) chutney to mango chutney, you can pick from your favourite fruit. As soon as you have a spoon of these chutneys, you will get a burst of flavours in your mouth. (Instagram/@mishti_bongkitchen)