Traditional dishes from Kolkata that will make you go omnomnom

by Shruti Sharma Content Curator

Kolkata has some great dining options, making it one of the top cuisine-focused cities. Some of the top restaurants in Kolkata are world-renowned and are frequented by travellers from all parts of the globe. It’s the traditional dishes in the region that attracts most of the buzz around it. In fact, quite a lot of people visit Kolkata just for its architecture and cuisines.

Fish-enthusiasts love the city, as well as people that love to binge on deserts. If you’ve wondered why Kolkata has so many cultural influences across the country, then it’s good to start with the food. Kolkata food has been some of the most beloved food for politicians, business leaders, and entrepreneurs running multinational companies. Here are some excellent traditional dishes to try at some of the top restaurants in Kolkata.

Macher jhol

Macher jhol is an exquisite Bengali fish preparation that is fried or curried and typically paired with rice. It’s a delicious sea-food extravaganza, as the local fish in Kolkata is incomparable to other parts of the country. Macher jhol is a traditional cuisine that’s complex in flavours but simple in preparation.

Each part of Kolkata has their own preparation methods, leaving many to season it according to what they like. Sometimes, with turmeric, garlic and ginger, it can be both a delicious meal and an anti-oxidant rich experience. The best part about Macher jhol is that its popularity is comparable to Butter Chicken in the north. This means that anywhere you go, you can have a taste of that region’s preparation of the local cuisine.

Mishti Doi

Mishti Doi is often a cuisine used to describe the language of Bengali itself. This sweet and delicate desert is a staple at many Kolkata homes. It’s a desert best enjoyed with some ice-cream or plain and simple as is. It’s essentially a fermented sweet yogurt but calling it that would be disintegrating its essence. It’s best enjoyed at any of the local sweet shops or at some of the top hotels in the city.

The Bakery at The LaLiT Great Eastern Kolkata has some of the best Mishti Doi that you can find in the city. It’s one of the top hotels in Kolkata near airport, and it has a great ambiance to enjoy your perfect serving of Mishti Doi.

Jhal Muri

Not only is Jhal Muri famous in Kolkata, it’s a top street food delicacy in London as well. Some of the top chefs around the world serve this delicacy, but its roots can only be found in the heart of Kolkata. The best part about Jhal Muri is that it’s a complex mix of different herbs, spices and oils that can be easily found across the city.

This makes the dish healthy, hearty and highly delicious once tasted. The puffed rice needs to be cooked to perfection and you need to add the right combination of spices.