Saturday, August 29, 2009

Food Recipes

Bangladeshi Meat & Fish Dishes

Reshmi Kabab

Ingredients
* 2 lb boneless chicken
* 4 medium sized onions
* 2" ginger
* 8 cloves garlic
* 1 bunch of coriander (cilantro) leaves
* 1 tsp cummin (jeera) seeds
* white pepper to taste (1 tsp.)
* 1 tsp garam masala
* 2 eggs
* salt to taste
* for garnish: lemon and spring onions
Directions
Mince the chicken. Grind all ingredients together except eggs and salt. Mix in the eggs and salt. Shape into sausages, put on skewers and cook over charcoal fire or in rotisserie until tender. Garnish with onions and lemon.


Tikya Kabab
Ingredients
* 1 oz (25 g) channa dhal, split
* 8 oz (225 g) fatless stewing steak
* 1 brown cardamom, ground
* 1/2 large onion, chopped
* 1 bay leaf
* 1 inch (2.5 cm) fresh ginger, chopped&
* 1/4 teaspoon black pepper,
* 1 large clove garlic, chopped
* salt to taste
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* ghee or oil
* 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
* 1 egg yolk
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander or parsley
* fine breadcrumbs
Directions
Soak the dhal overnight, then boil in twice its volume of water. Strain off any excess water. Put the meat, onion, ginger, garlic and spices through a mincer. Mix well and add salt to taste. Add the dhal to the mixture, and fry in a little ghee for 20 minutes. Add a *little* water if it dries up too much. Leave aside for about 3 hours or overnight to thicken and dry. The next day, or when ready, add the egg yolk, and, if it doesn't hold together, add gram flour to thicken or water to thin. Add fresh coriander or parsley. For Seekh Kebabs roll mixture in breadcrumbs to sausage shapes. Skewer them and cook over charcoal (best), under the grill, or fry in a frying pan. For Shami Kebabs, roll into balls, coat in breadcrumbs and deep-fry.


Vindaloo
Ingredients
* Meat 1 lb
* Vinegar 2 tbsp
* Coriander paste 1 tsp
* Cumin paste 1/2 tsp
* Turmeric 1 tsp
* Mustard 1/2 tsp
* Chili powder 2 tsp
* Black pepper 1/2 tsp
* Diced onions 1/4 cup
* Diced garlic 1 tsp
* Green chili 3
* Salt 1 tsp
* Oil 1/4 cup
Directions
In hot oil, stir fry the onions and garlic. Add the spices and vinegar and stir fry for 5 minutes in medium-high heat. Add the meat and cooked covered in medium heat until meat is tender. You might wish to evaporate excess water.

Chicken Makhani
Ingredients
* 2 pounds of (bony) chicken
* 1 cup yogurt (dahi)
* 1" piece of ginger
* 8 cloves garlic
* 2 tbs lime juice
* 4" stick of cinnamon
* 8 cloves
* 8 cardamoms
* 10 black peppercorns
* 1 tbs oil
* 2 1/4 pounds tomatoes
* 1 tsp. dried fenugreek leaves (optional)
* 1 tbs. white pepper powder (essential)
* 1 ounce cream (optional but recommended for a touch of class)
* 1 !!pound!! butter. You can get away with 0.6 lb if 1 lb is too much.
* salt to taste if you use yellow butter, then scale down the salt accordingly. If you use white butter, then you will need more salt.
* coriander (cilantro): optional topping.
Directions
1.clean chicken and remove the skin
2.make a smooth paste of yogurt, garlic, ginger, lime juice, cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms, peppercorns and the oil. Marinate the chicken in this for 6 hours.
3.Bake the chicken in a preheated oven for 10 minutes at 250 F (130 C). Put it aside. It kind of makes sense to finish steps 1-3 before starting step 4.
4.We need to get a tomato sauce. Cut tomatoes, put 'em in a pan (no water) and boil. When the quantity has dropped by half, strain through a fine sieve. What comes out of the sieve is the tomato sauce. (This is hard work with a clumsy sieve).
5.Take a pan, start heating the sauce, add the butter. When the butter is melted, add the white pepper powder, salt, fenugreek leaves and cream.
6.Mix the chicken pieces into this sauce. You may like chopped coriander (cilantro) as topping. Serve hot. This works best with good rice (i.e. basmati).

Fish Do-peaja
Ingredients
* Fish (preferably small, cut into small pieces) 1 cup if
* Sliced onions: 1/2 cup
* Chilli powder/paste (red) 1 tsp
* Turmeric powder/paste 1 tsp
* Onion paste 2 tbsp
* Ginger paste 1/8 tsp
* Pepper paste 1/4 tsp
* Shredded dhania leaves (cilantro) personal taste
* Onion leaves 2 tbsp
* Oil 1/3 cup
* Salt 1 tsp
* Tomato (tomatoe for republicans) 2 medium
Directions
Works best with small fish. Out here in the land of non- Bangladeshi fish, try shrimp or any fresh-water fish cut into very small pieces. After heating the oil add all the powder/paste spices and fry for a couple of minutes. You might add a little bit of water if you are using powders only. Make sure you don't burn the spices. (Include the onion pastes) Add the shredded onions and the fish. Add 1/2 cup of water and the salt. Cover the dish and medium-hi heat. When the water has almost evaporated, add tomatoes, cilantero, and the onion leaves. Heat under low-medium heat till the oil starts to float.


Rezala
Ingredients
* 750 g lamb/mutton/beef
* 500 g yoghurt
* 100 g ghee
* 100 g sliced onions
* 4 bay leaves
* 2 inch cinnamon stick
* 4 green cardamom pods
* 4 cloves
* 2 tsp garlic paste
* 2 tsp chilli powder
* 1 tsp sugar
* Salt to taste
Directions
Heat ghee in a pan, add bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon and cardamoms, and sauté.
Add sliced onion and fry for a few minutes, add garlic paste and chilli powder and sauté.
Add mutton and fry for a few minutes.
Add salt and sugar to taste.
Gradually stir the yoghurt.
Put the lid on and leave to cook.
If water dries up add a little water.
Cook till water dries up and ghee comes on top
Serve hot with rice or parota.
Great with polao, salad and/or porata.

Makher Taukari (Fish Curry)
Ingredients
* Fish 1 lb
* Red chili powder 1/2 tsp (or to taste)
* Turmeric 1 tsp
* Garlic 1 tsp
* Oil 1/4 cup
* Onion, diced 1/4 cup
* Green chili 2 or 3
* Salt 1 tsp
* Tomatoes Optional
* Cilantro, (chopped) Optional
Directions
Sitr fry onion in oil until translucent. Add garlic and stir fry until the garlic starts to turn brown. Add all the spices and stir fry for about 5 minutes. Add the fish and carefully fry each side for a 2-3 minutes. Add enough water to just barely cover the fish. Put in the green chili and tomatoes. Cook covered in medium heat until done. Add the chopped cilantro and keep covered for 5 minutes before serving.

Kalia
Ingredients
* Meat 2 lbs
* Oil 1/2 cup
* Onion paste 1/4 cup
* Ginger paste 1 tbsp
* Garlic paste 2 tsp
* Turmeric paste 2 tsp
* Chili paste 1 tsp
* Cumin paste 2 tsp
* Coriander paste 2 tbsp
* Ground pepper 1 tsp
* Cinnamon 3 1" sticks
* Cardamom 3
* Bay leaf 1
* Potatoes 1 lb
Directions
Cut the meat into 1 inch cubes. Mix all the ingredients except potatoes with the meat and half of the oil. Cover the meat with an equal amounts of water and cook under medium heat. When the water has evaporated, stir fry the meat for about 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, peel the potatoes, and cut them into large pieces. Fry the potatoes in the rest of the oil until they start turning brown. Add the potatoes to the meat and stir fry them a bit longer, making sure that the potatoes and meat do not start breaking apart. After about 15 minutes, add a bit more water to dissolve the spices that may be sticking to the pot and cook covered in medium heat for another 10-15 minutes. When the potatoes are cooked, keep covered on low heat for another few minutes.



Prawn Curry
Ingredients
* 1 lb prawns
* 5 green chilies, chopped

* 2 onions, chopped
* 1 small bunch spring onion leaves, cilantro leaves
* 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste

* 2 tomatoes, chopped
* 2 tsp chili powder
* 1 tsp turmeric
* 4 tbsp oil
* 2 tsp garam masala
* Salt to taste
Directions
Clean the prawns in salt water to avoid the smell of the prawns (if it bothers you..) Heat oil in a pan. Add green chilies, onions and fry until brown. Add ginger-garlic paste, spring onion leaves, cilantro and fry for some more minutes. Then add tomatoes, prawns and cook until they are done. Add salt, chili powder, garam masala and fry for 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro leaves.


Makher Taukari
(Fish Curry)
Ingredients
* Fish 1 lb
* Red chili powder 1/2 tsp (or to taste)
* Turmeric 1 tsp
* Garlic 1 tsp
* Oil 1/4 cup
* Onion, diced 1/4 cup
* Green chili 2 or 3
* Salt 1 tsp
* Tomatoes Optional
* Cilantro, (chopped) Optional
Directions
Sitr fry onion in oil until translucent. Add garlic and stir fry until the garlic starts to turn brown. Add all the spices and stir fry for about 5 minutes. Add the fish and carefully fry each side for a 2-3 minutes. Add enough water to just barely cover the fish. Put in the green chili and tomatoes. Cook covered in medium heat until done. Add the chopped cilantro and keep covered for 5 minutes before serving.


Fish Dopeeaja
Ingredients
* Fish (preferably small, cut into small pieces) 1 cup
* Sliced onions: 1/2 cup
* Chilli powder/paste (red) 1 tsp
* Turmeric powder/paste 1 tsp
* Onion paste 2 tbsp
* Ginger paste 1/8 tsp
* Pepper paste 1/4 tsp
* Shredded dhania leaves (cilantro) personal taste
* Onion leaves 2 tbsp
* Oil 1/3 cup
* Salt 1 tsp
* Tomato (tomatoe for Dan Quayle) 2 medium
Directions
Works best with small fish. Out here in the land of non- Bangladeshi fish, try shrimp or any fresh-water fish cut into very small pieces. After heating the oil add all the powder/paste spices and fry for a couple of minutes. You might add a little bit of water if you are using powders only. Make sure you don't burn the spices. (Include the onion paste) Add the shredded onions and the fish. Add 1/2 cup of water and the salt. Cover the dish and cook at medium-hi heat. When the water has almost evaporated, add tomatoes, cilantro, and the onion leaves. Heat under low-medium heat till the oil starts to float.



Bhapa Ilish Patey
(Fish)
(unedited)
Ingredients
* Hilsa Fish - 600 gms
* Turmeric Powder - 1 1/2 tsp
* Salt - to taste
* Mustard Seed Paste - 40 gms

* Green Chilli Paste - 20 gms

* Green Chilli Slit - 4 nos

* Cream - 25 ml
* Mustard Oil - 75 gms

Directions
Cut the hilsa fish into darnes and wash well in cold water.
Apply turmeric and salt on the fish and set aside for 20 minutes.
Blend together freshly ground fine mustard paste, green chilli paste, oil, cream and turmeric powder (1 tsp).
Dip the pieces of marinated fish in this masala and put in the steaming casserole of the pressure cooker.
Pour four cups of water in the cooker and bring to a boil. Adjust the steamer casserole and steam under simmering temperature for 8 minutes. Take off the fire and release the steam.
Serve hot with boiled rice garnished with slit green chillies.


Fish in Mustard Oil
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 1 hour
Ingredients
* 1/2 kg fish, sliced
* 3 potatoes, sliced
* 2 onions, sliced
* 2 green chilies
* 1 tsp turmeric powder
* 1/2 cup coriander leaves, chopped
* 100 gms mustard oil, heated and cooled
* Salt to taste
Directions
Mix the onions, potatoes, chilies, turmeric and salt with the fish. Put all these in a pan with the mustard oil and just enough water. Cook on a low heat, stirring carefully without breaking the potatoes and the fish slices. Cook gently until the fish is cooked and browned and when done, remove from heat. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.



Tourism

Bangladesh Tourism LogoWorld largest mangrove | World longest natural beach

What to see -

1. Sundarban - a visit to Sundarban, a large mangrove forest in Southern Bangladesh, would be #1 on my list. This is a multi-day guided tour, since you need a boat to get there and explore.

2. Srimongol - about 3.5 hours by car from Dhaka, this area contains several tea gardens and Lawachhera national forest. It is easy to explore both Lawachhera and the tea gardens. If you need to stay overnight, the Tea Resort is a good place. Or you can make it a (long) day-trip from Dhaka.

3. Old Dhaka - those interested in architecture as well as exploring narrow alleys and disorientingly crazy crowds can spend days walking through and exploring old Dhaka. Don't miss Bara Katara, Lalbagh Fort, Star Mosque, Armenian Church and Dhakeshwari Temple.

4. Sonargaon - this was the first capital of Bengal, and it still retains historical buildings. Panam Nagar, dating back about 100 years, is an interesting ghost town. A few km away is a
replica of Taj Mahal. About an hour from Dhaka.

5. New Dhaka - Curzon Hall, Shaheed Minar, Parliament Building (designed by Louis Kahn) etc.


6. Chittagong Hill Tracts - The Hill Tracts are supposed to be very pretty, but I have not been there for many many years. Guide Tours has a hotel in Bandorbon; there is also Peda Ting Ting, an eco-resort on an island near Kaptai.

7. Coxs Bazar and Kuakata - beaches.

8. Buddhist ruins - There are several ancient (1000+ years) Buddhist ruins spread around the country, including Moinamoti, Paharpur and some near Rajshahi.


9. Rajshahi, Chittagong, Sylhet - The first two are pretty cities to explore. The outskirts of Sylhet (towards Tamabil, and the airport road) are very beautiful.

Also on my list of places to visit are Birisiri, Madhupur and St Martin's Island, but since I have not been there, I cannot
tell you too much about them.

Activities

1. Bird-watching - Bangladesh has a huge number of birds, specially in winter. Catch a sight of the Masked Finfoot in Sundarban. Kingfishers, kites, hoopoes and orioles are also common.

2. Mountain Biking - Bangladesh is a great country for mountain biking because there are no mountains. Country roads that connect the villages together provide a splendid network for exploring, and if you come to a river, most likely you will find a boatman who will take you across. Bicycling through the meandering tea-garden paths is also fantastic.

3. Riverboating - a number of companies, including Contiki tours, take tourists on rides on the rivers. Try to get to the Dhaleswari, Meghna or Padma river, and give Buri Ganga and Turag a miss. Balu is ok, too.

4. Learning to Recycle - in Kamrangir Char near old Dhaka, there are some amazing recycling facilities.

5. Hiking - virtually any place outside Dhaka is good for walking. The more remote the place is, the more privacy you will have.

6. Metal Crafts - about 1 hour from Dhaka is Dhamrai, famous for its art and craft. At Dhamrai Metal Craft you can learn how those amazing metal sculptures are made.

7. Photography - if you are into photography, you will find the people of Bangladesh friendly and willing to pose. Or, if you take a trip on the Rocket launch, you will have plenty of opportunities to take pictures of birds and river dolphins. Tea gardens of Srimongol are great for nature photography, and old Dhaka provides opportunities for architectural photography.

8. Gastronomy in old Dhaka - start with some Bakarkhani crackers (available all over old Dha
Dhaka City at nightka) and rich milk-tea, or eat breakfast at Haji's Biriyani in Bangshal (they slaughter 40-50 goats evey night for next morning's biriyani), lunch on a giant Rui-fish steak at Al Razzaque restaurant and in the evening head for mouth-watering kababs at Star Kabab.

9. Shopping - Dhaka is not Dubai, but then you don't need a thick wad of cash either. At Bongo Bazar you can buy export-quality clothes for a pittance. Aarong, Jatra and several other stores sell high-quality handcrafted goods. And don't forget the DVDs.


Bangladeshi Food

Bangladesh Food
Western food is available in all major hotels and most of the big restaurants in import cities. But local dishes are normally far better and more exotic. Curries of many kinds around, cooked with proper spices and hot curry powders, including Korma, Rezala, Bhoona and Masala Gosht, Chicken, mutton, beef, fish and prawns, Chicken Afghani, Chicken Baghdadi, Chicken Kashmiri, Chicken Tikka, boti kabab, shutli kabab and a variety of fish curries should be tried. Rice in the form of pulao, biriani-with rice and mutton or chicken and khichuri are available in any reasonable restaurant. Those who do not care for rice dishes can try mughlai parata, plain parata or naan, which go very well with curries. Seafood and sweet-water fish are available in most of the towns. Fish-lovers should not miss smoked hilsa, fresh bhetki and chingri (lobster/king prawns) malaikari, Prawn dopyaza.

DRINKS
Chai - the milky sweet tea available almost everywhere.
Lassi - the refreshing yogurt drink. Green coconut water is a fine, safe and refreshing drink. International soft drinks, such as Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Fanta, 7-up, Mirinda, Sun Crest and Sprite are readily available. Hard drinks are available in big hotels and selected restaurants. On Fridays drinking in public areas is not recommended for foreigners.

DESSERTS
Misti Dhohi, sweetened yogurt, Halua: a common dessert ranging from egg halua to carrot, sooji or wheat cream, almond, pistachio, nuts and so on, Sandesh: milk based dessert, one of the best available, Zorda: sweetened rice with nuts, Firni: rice flour cooked in milk, sugar and flavoring, Rasgolla & Kalojam: Two popular milk based desserts and made with sugar, flour and ghee, Ros Malai: round sweets floating in thick milk, Pitha: a blanket term for cakes or pastries including specific varieties such as chitoi, dhupi, takti, andosha, pufi, bhafa and pua.

FRUITS
Mangoes, Lichees, Bananas, Papayas, Jackfruit, Watermelon, Pineapple, Coconut and Oranges.

Recommended Fast Food Restaurants:
Waterfront Restaurant, Zia International Airport, Ph: (880-2) 8915407
Coopers, Airport Road. Ph: (880-2) 8119993
Yummy Yummy etc.
The White Castle Ltd. 20, Kemal Ataturk Avenue. Ph: (880-2) 606268,605914
Seven Eleven, Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi. Ph: (880-2) 8117263
Big Bite, 22/B Sonargaon Road,Hatirpul. Ph: (880-2) 9664140
Sajna, 10 South Avenue, Gulshan-1,Dhaka-1212.Ph: (880-2) 603507,603243
China Town, 53 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. Ph: (880-2) 8111329,8118425

Recommended Restaurants in Dhaka:
A number of good restaurants provide local and western food. These include:-
Parjatan Restaurant, Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali, Ph: 607085-89, 8811548, 8811109
Santoor, House-2, Road-11(New), Dhanmondi. Ph: (880-2) 9128737, 8213336
Goffers' Inn, Kurmitola Golf Club, Ph: 604592
Sakura Restaurant, near Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Ph: 509296
Ruchita Restaurant, Bangabandhu Avenue, Ph: 9555693
Mary Anderson, Floating Restaurant, Paglaghat, Ph: 067171288
La Diplomat, Gulshan, Ph: 602282
Red Button, Farm Gate, Ph: 9117717
Balaka, Zia International Airport, Ph: 8914008
Kawran Saraj, Sonargaon Hotel, Ph: 8111005
Bithika, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Ph: 8611191, 8613391, 8614065

Recommended Chinese Restaurants
include:
Parjatan Restaurant, Hotel Abakash, Mohakhali, Ph: 607085-89, 8811548, 8811109
Royal Orchid, Gulshan Avenue, Ph: 603573
Panda Garden, near Mohakhali Rail Gate, Ph: 608469
La Diplomat, Gulshan, Ph: 602282
Hwwang Ho, Banani, Ph: 602932
Chung Wah, North-South Road, Ph: 9553263
Kawloon, Ph: 9111353; Goffers' Inn,
Kurmitola Golf Club, Ph: 604592;
Shangri-La, Ph: 8824015 at Banani Bazar and the Cathey Dhaka, Road 133
Gulshan, Ph: 608476

Besides there are some specialized restaurants which included,
Doice vita (Mexican & Italian), 54 Kamal Ataturk Avenue,
Banani, Ph: 500589, 607980;
Sea Food Centre, 78/A Gulshan Avenue, Ph: 606175
Sawasdee (Thai), 65 Kamal Ataturk Avenue,
Banani, Ph: 60607571, 8824476
Lemon Grass (Thai & Vietnarness),
Road 131, Gulshan-2, Ph: 8822376;
The White Castle, 20, Kamal Ataturk Avenue,
Banani, Ph: 605914, 606268, 8812658
Angan Restaurant, SWC(3), Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka-1212 Ph: 8810448.