Winter season is such a beautiful time of the year, especially if you spend it in West Bengal. It is not too cold, the atmosphere is quite pleasant, and the cherry on top is the massive spread of winter-special delicacies. If you think that Bengali cuisine is all about maach bhaat and roshogolla (yes, it’s not rasgulla), then you still have a lot to explore my friend! With Poush Sankranti knocking on the door, most Bengali households are getting ready to prepare special dishes to celebrate Bengal’s harvest festival. How can any Bengali festival be complete without gorging on a feast, right?
These Sweet Dishes Are Cooked During Poush Sankranti
Bengalis enjoy the winter season to the fullest by indulging in a feast of the yummiest pitha. There are loads of options when it comes to these sweet treats. Every household has its special recipes and techniques to prepare all these and they have been following these for decades. When it comes to an occasion like Poush Sankranti, making pitha is an absolute must in most families. Here are the sweet delights that are cooked the most at the harvest festival.
1. Patishapta
If I could use the phrase ‘the more the merrier’ for a pitha, it would surely be Patishapta. But why? Well, this pitha is made by adding sweet filling stuffed inside crepes and you can add lots of variations of this filling. There are so many options such as adding kheer, coconut, a mixture of coconut and jaggery, and sandesh among others. And the crepes are made with rice flour, semolina, and some wheat flour.
2. Gokul Pithe
This traditional Bengali sweet treat is enjoyed in many households during the winter season, especially on the Poush Sankranti. Cookied with rice flour, semolina, khoya, coconut, and milk, this fried dessert is soaked in jaggery syrup. Every bite simply melts in your mouth.
3. Nolen Gurer Payesh
Be it birthdays or any auspicious festival, Bengalis cannot celebrate any special day without making Nolen Gurer Payesh. The rich taste of rice cooked in milk and date palm jaggery is extraordinary. The aroma of ghee, jaggery, and cardamom fascinates everyone, from the making of payesh to relishing it.
4. Chitoi Pithe
One of the most loved and special Bengali pithe is Chitoi Pithe. Also known as shorar pithe, the main ingredient to make this dessert is rice flour. After preparing the soft and fluffy pithe, foodies pair it with liquid date palm jaggery. Making Chitoi Pithe is a significant part of celebrating Poush Parbon.
5. Doodh Puli Pithe
Winter season is enjoyed to the fullest indulging in a feast of Doodh Puli Pithe. The desserts are quite similar to sweet dumplings prepared by stuffing a mixture of coconut and palm jaggery inside layers of rice flour or semolina. Next, these dumplings are soaked in milk and boiled for a couple of minutes.
Also read: Jewellery Or Yummy Food? Bengalis’ Unique Snack, Gohona Bori Is Also A Heritage Food Art
6. Moong Dal Puli Pitha
Not just dudh puli, puli pithe has a variety of yummy delights to enjoy. One of the yummiest puli pithe to gorge on is Moong Dal Puli Pitha. This traditional dessert is rich in the heavenly taste of moong dal, shredded coconut, and jaggery.
Are you celebrating Poush Sankranti and enjoying all these sweet delights this year?
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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