It’s the holy month of Ramzan and Zakaria Street in central Kolkata has been transformed into a veritable paradise for foodies. The food stalls are up and the streets are filled with an array of options. If you are embarking on a food trail in Zakaria Street, then, first and foremost you are greeted by the sight of freshly cut fruits. Boost your energy with a plate full of fruit salad or restore the water level with some watermelons before heading on to spicier items on the menu
All photographs by Ashim Paul and Arnab Dutta
When at Zakaria, the piping hot crispy fries and succulent kebabs inadvertently make it to the list. A strong whiff of delectables, including the aroma of the mouth-watering marination of chicken or fish in Indian spices, wafts through the air around the Nakhoda Masjid and its adjoining streets. You simply have to experience it to understand it
The trip during Ramzan is incomplete without trying some bakarkhani. Did you know bakarkhani, the delicious Indian bread, hails from the Mughlai cuisine? Dip it into your chai the next morning or dunk it in the gravy of haleem or nihari, the aroma and taste of ghee, the hard crust and delicious bite gives you a heavenly experience
Not only temporary food stalls but traditional restaurants and eateries like Dilli 6, Al Baik, Taskeen, Sufia, Bombay Hotel and Adam’s Kebab are also bustling with people during this time of the year. From Adam’s beef suta kebabs to Dilli 6’s murgh fry, the options will make you savour and pack for home
Love sweets? Don’t miss getting sevai (vermicelli) for home. The smell of ghee will make you want to cook as soon as you get back to your kitchen. While you can try the traditional way of cooking them in milk, you can also get a little innovative and make fruit custard and other desserts with them. The sevai usually are found in two forms at Zakaria Street – khee sevai and lachcha sevai. Get them both, we say!
If you need a break from the food coma, don’t sip the usual beverages to quench your thirst. Instead, get a glass of chilled Sharbat e Mohabbat. The refreshing taste of rose syrup, crushed ice, milk and watermelon coupled with its sweet aroma is an instant mood lifter. There’s just one problem with having Sharbat e Mohabbat, you just can’t stop at one glass
Before calling the food trail a day, sneak phirni into the list. The popular dessert that’s made with ground rice is a different take on rice kheer. The thick, creamy and milky blend is another food item from the Mughlai kitchen and has its roots in the Middle East. If you are packing a few, word of caution, put them into the refrigerator as soon as you are back home. Milk desserts tend to get funny quickly
