From the time-honoured recipes of Bengal’s bonedi baris to the creative flavours of opaar Bangla, these home chefs have designed special Durga Puja menus that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Relish Bengali cuisine in its traditional avatar or with a twist! My Kolkata picks three cloud kitchens to try this festive season.
Goppoburir Henshel
L-R: Chingri Potoler Dolma, Ilisher Bhuna Khichuri, Kalojeere Kanchalonka Mangsho
Started in 2020 by three friends, Arijit Mandal, Arnab Thakur and Sanhita Thakur, Goppoburir Henshel firmly believes that food travels through folklore. The cloud kitchen, best known for its unique Sunday menus serving delicious home-cooked food, is all set for the coming weekends. For Durga Puja, the home chefs have curated signature recipes from the bonedi baris of Kolkata.
Recipes like Rani Rashmoni Barir Kaju Badam Bata Murgi, Bowbazar Sen Barir Katla Kalia, Mullick Barir Mete Chochori and Saborno Roychowdhury’r Uma Bhog will be part of the festive feast. Presenting the menu, Arijit Mandal, the co-founder said, “This is our endeavour to unveil the dishes to our patrons and clients not familiar to the present generation. Over the pujo month, every Sunday our menu card has recipes from traditional households.”
Apart from that, during Puja, they are also serving a traditional bhog offered to the Goddess which includes Bhog’er Khichuri, Koi Machher Hara Gourii, Niramish Mangsho, Chingri Potol er Dolma and Katla Machher Korma, to name a few.
Ilish lovers can drop them a line and tuck into traditional Bengali preparations such as Ilish Macher Bhuna Khichuri, Ilish Macher Tok which is offered in Dashami, Ilish Begun Er Jhal etc. are available in the Ilish offerings.
MK picks: Ilish Machher Tok, Narkel Murgi, Kalo Jeere Kancha Lonka Mangsho, Niramish Mangsho (Mutton)
For home delivery, contact: 9831065904/ 9830565903. Prior booking is mandatory.
Didar Henshel
In 2019, Tania Maity, along with her mother Shibani Maity, started their cloud kitchen, Didar Henshel. Their motive was simple: to deliver didima-r haater ranna (flavours of grandma’s kitchen) to households, which explains the name of their venture. The dishes at Didar Henshel are prepared using traditional methods, keeping the age-old recipes alive. In a quest to offer unique and traditional dishes, the mother-daughter duo pick up recipes from their travels. That’s how their menu got two new additions - a variety of Bangal Bata Bhorta and a Pata Pora Chicken from Bolpur.
Didar Henshel has curated five menus for the five days of Puja. The menu for each day has a mix of classic recipes and creations by Didar Henshel. “We have a variety of dishes this time. There is a unique Chicken Muitha, same as Chittol Maachher Muitha. We have the Pata Pora Chicken that we learnt from the tribal folks in Bolpur on our visit to Santiniketan. We have Whole Chicken Roast, Mutton Lal Shuruya and more, as well,” said Tania.
MK picks: Pata Pora Chicken, Gota Chicken Roast, Chhanapora
For home delivery or pick-up, contact: 8777034716/7450990809. A two-day prior booking is mandatory.
KHAI KHAI
Chicken Cheese Balls and Prawn Pulao (representational image) Shutterstock
Operating from Nanighar, KHAI KHAI was started by Sumana Chowdhury, whose love for cooking traces back to her school days. “I specialise mainly in Bengali cuisine and my aim is to cater healthy, nutritious and tasty food. Cooking is my passion and now with the help of Nanighar, I am able to spread my joy to many people.”
For the upcoming Puja festivities, Chowdhury is offering an array of 16 dishes. The menu boasts Bengali fish preparations like Chittol Machher Petir Tel Jhal, Chittol Machher Muitha, Bekti Paturi and more. Then there are classic Bengali mutton and chicken preparations such as Mutton Dak Bungalow, Chicken Dak Bungalow and snacks like Cheese Chicken Balls.
A good option of both Bengali and Chinese fast food options are also available, cooked in a wholesome home environment.
MK picks: Chittol Machher Petir Tel Jhal, Mutton Dak Bungalow, Prawn Pulao
For home delivery: Order via Nanighar at least 24 hours prior to delivery.
