CURRY AND SPICE: BENGALI PYAZI

Thursday, 17 February 2022

BENGALI PYAZI

"MURI AND TELEBHAJA" IS THE MOST POPULAR AMONG THE BENGALI EVENING TIME SNACKS!

Surprising enough, our parents who were deadly against letting us have street food; did get Telebhaja / fries and fritters on a regular basis; I mean weekly once or fortnightly! In those days, for a maximum of Bengali Homes; puffed rice with fries and fritters from the neighbourhood shops had been the evening time ritual. Whilst in our home, we were feed chana / homemade soft paneer, muri; also roshogolla with muri or ruti; worst had been a glass of milk or complan added to it, marie or cream cracker biscuit with homemade jam on top! Biscuits were a pleasure but milk? Nah! Actually, back from the school, I would have rice; later during the college days; the practice was forcefully stopped due to my obesity! Once in college and with quite a few tuitions in hand; I could exercise some liberty of having outside food! I did get freedom from the parents, not Bhai! On days when I headed back home an hour or two late; post 6 pm, I would get Telebhaja! We enjoyed them sitting together! Our mother was fond of "fuluri", till date I dislike it! On days she got us maggi or pastry cakes in the evenings or made porota for us, she would get fuluri for herself. I would still insist the father loved his "muri-kola ba aam-dudh" the most in the evenings! These days, the mother hardly wants outside food!

KOLKATA & TELEBHAJA!

They are intertwined! The older part of Kolkata [North Kolkata], it's suburbs would have a fries and fritter shop every three hundred metres! Only the condominium localities, new developments for the past two decades would not have them. They would not have anything that are specific of Kolkata, those that defines Kolkata! Actually, those who buy flats in the secluded areas, want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city life! We were like, wished to upgrade us to stay in a decent condominium, did not really want to get totally aloof from the Kolkata life! Few would understand why I wish to stay in a condominium near to the Baguiati and Nagerbazaar! From our place to Baguiati Bazaar it takes to get a decent Telebhaja, do not know what exactly is the scenario now, if Tegharia opened up new shops or not! Feeling a bit homesick these days; just scared of a fate like Bappi Lahiri, Lata Mangeshkar or Sandhya Mukherjee! Did not they get their boosters? Okay! The two veteran ladies were ninety up but Bappi Lahiri and I, both have got comorbidities and the over weight issue! Yet, I had that lemon cream biscuits on my walk today; back home the cooker made rice & malka masur dal, pointed gourd & chilli pakora!

Cristine made them, she adds more of gram flour & less of rice flour like the rest of the India. They tasted good but softens quickly! I mostly make the fries and fritters we eat and blog about ; all of us love, the son and I love the most! I already have a related recipe PAKORA / TELEBHAJA / FRIES N FRITTERS existing in the Blog! I just need to update the pictures. Besides, I have a good number of fried snacks recipes in the blog; from BENGALI BEGUNI to PUI PATAR BORA !

WHAT IS THIS BENGALI PYAZI?

It is one of the most common and popular fritter in Bengal; some other states of India also have it! The taste and the ingredients of this BENGALI PYAZI would slightly differ! The main ingredient of this batter fried onions would be same everywhere! The star ingredient of this vegan & gluten-free fritter / snack is Onion; bigger in size, fresh! There is no artistry shaping them and frying; we need patience to fry them continuously adjusting the temperature! I keep myself occupied with cooking, exercise a bit of humour even if I am not in the mood or habit; we have to live well as long as we are here on this earth! My loner self finds a good friend in music, of my choice of genre!