Rinku Bhattacharya

Bengali Five Spice Chronicles, Expanded Edition

WINNER GOURMAND COOKBOOK AWARD for Best Indian Cuisine Cookbook “What a seductive book this is, a tantalizing world of flavors waiting to be cooked, tasted, experienced . . . but the scope of the book is much larger, including a personal and well-told story of Bengali cuisine. I love this book!” — Deborah Madison, author of The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone Now expanded with over 60 new recipes and a new photo section, this perennial favorite of Bengali cuisine is more comprehensive than ever! Bengalis have been compared to the French in terms of food-obsessed peoples, as dining and entertaining are such an integral part of the culture. This book begins with a thorough introduction to Bengali culture and cooking, including sections on spices, ingredients, and equipment. Following are recipe chapters (incorporating a balance of traditional and contemporary recipes) on Rice & Breads, Lentils, Fried Vegetables and Fritters, Vegetarian First Courses, Vegetarian Entrees, Eggs, Fish, Chicken & Poultry, Meat Dishes, Chutneys & Relishes, Drinks & Snacks, and Desserts. Includes 200 easy-to-follow recipes, including a new chapter on globally-influenced Bengali favorites, plus sections on spice pastes, spice blends, and essential tools, and sidebars with family anecdotes and historical and cultural information. Sample recipes: Chicken Kacchi Biryani Haleem (Lentil, Meat and Cereal Porridge) Creamed Spinach with Mustard (Shorshe Saag) Bengali Golden Fragrant Rice Fish in Light Ginger Gravy (Halka Pabda Maacher Jhol) Saffron Rice with Meatballs (Moti Churi Biryani) Yellow Split Peas with Cauliflower and Radishes (Mulo ar Kopir Data Diye Motor Dal) Pepper-Spiced Bengali Vegetable Stew Lightly-spiced Pan fried Eggplant (Begun Bhaja) Channa Pudding (Channar Payesh) Cottage Cheese Cakes (Sandesh)