Kolkata (কলকাতা), also known as Calcutta, is claimed as the ‘City of Joy’ for its beautiful cultural heritages, classic and extensive varieties of transportation including Tram, one of the oldest modes and varieties of foods and delicacies. This city is an amalgamation of traditional and modern, which even includes its delicacies.
Fortes of Kolkata’s cuisines like Macher Jhol (Fish Curry), Mutton Kosha (Mutton Curry), Luchi (Bengali Fried Flatbread) are chart-topping all over the city and considered the staple food. Different other cuisines, as well as street foods, are also emphatically popular in various restaurants which have been continuing their legacy for years.
1.Crispy Crunchy Chicken
This starter item has always been a boom, because of its simple yet stunning, juicy chicken tenders with a crispy coating. The outburst of flavours can be felt when being eaten. This item has always been a classic choice for restaurants as well as customers.
2. Chicken Reshmi Kebab
We all have tasted kebabs, but especially Reshmi Kabab has always been an underrated one for the table. This kebab item has a Mughal influence in its making. It is cooked by marinating boneless pieces of chicken in curd, cashew nut paste, cream, and spices and then grilled in tandoor. It has a spicy inside and a thin but crusty coating.
3. Chicken Biriyani
This particular food item needs no introduction as it is considered the ‘King of Every Cuisine’ in Kolkata. Biriyanis in Kolkata are always a bit different as compared to other places like Hyderabad, Lucknow, etc. Kolkata Chicken Biriyani is quite light in spices but an ocean of flavours when tasted. The speciality of Kolkata Chicken Biriyani is that it comes with aloo (a medium-sized potato) and sometimes with an egg (which varies from place to place).
4. Mutton Biriyani
With great power, comes great responsibility. Mutton Biriyani continues the legacy of the Kolkata Biriyani Delicacy. Kolkata Mutton Biriyani comes with a big chunk of red meat (mutton), along with aloo (A medium-sized potato) and also an egg (it too varies from place to place).
5. Mutton Kosha
Mutton Kosha is an iconic Bengali delicacy. The word kosha is similar to bhuna, which means slow cooking of the gravy in a quite low flame to achieve a dark brown shade of the curry and melt-in-mouth mutton pieces. It is a Bengali-styled mutton curry that has a rich spicy flavour along with a robust addition of mustard oil.
6. Fish Curry
Fish Curry, popularly known as Macher Jhol in Bengali, is the forte of every restaurant and the staple meal of every Kolkataites. Different types of fish are available depending upon the demand and the availability of the particular type. A few famous varieties are – Hilsha, Rohu (Rui), Chingri, etc.
7. Lachha Paratha Chicken Roll
Laccha Paratha Chicken Roll is the signature dish of ‘Have More’. Laccha Paratha, made with whole wheat and atta, fried in a traditional way along with the slathering of chicken chunks and its stuffing that includes fried onions and semi-dried gravy.
8. Chicken Hariyali Kebab
Chicken Hariyali Kebab is a lip-smacking appetizer which is pretty juicy, delectable and has a strong hint of coriander, mint and some selected spices. These boneless chicken pieces are marinated with proportionated spices along with some paste and are grilled to perfection.
9. Chicken Chaap
This item has a Mughal influence which was accompanied by biriyani as it was a deadly combo. This Bengali version includes the cooking of chicken leg in a thick chicken gravy infused with fried onions and spices along with meaty flavours of garlic and cashew.
10. Veg Fried Rice
This classic Asian dish is made with stir-frying cooked rice in a wok with some hearty fresh veggies, green onions, soya sauce, seasonings, and spices for an incredible mixture and bursts of flavour but also keeping it light and simple.
11. Mutton Rezala
Mutton Rezala is a native Mughlai recipe of soft, marinated mutton in a white, subtle gravy infused with cashew paste, yoghurt, spices, poppy seeds, makhana and kewra essence.
12. Chicken Hyderabadi
Chicken Hyderabadi, which hails from Hyderabad, is an aromatic, flavourful dish which is made by deep-frying onions that are later used in the chicken marinade, alongside whole roast garam masala spices, yoghurt, and ground spices. The chicken is slow-cooked in low flame until the chicken falls off the bone.
13. Navratan Korma
Navratan Korma is a North-Indian luxurious, aromatic curry dish that has an assortment of fresh veggies, dry fruits, cream, nuts, and spices. This recipe is freakishly flavourful and mildly on the sweeter side.
14. Chicken Malai Kebab
Succulent chunks of boneless chicken with an aromatic essence wrapped up in creamy textures of cheese and cream, garnished with little lemon juice, butter, garam masala, and coriander leaves and served with green chutney.
15. Mutton Dabba Gosht
This is a yummy Mughlai recipe with luscious mutton infused with big pieces of tomatoes, cream, egg, capsicum and ground spices. Slowly cooked till the gosht (meat) comes off from the bone. It is considered one of the unmatched luxurious cuisines in Indian delicacy.
16. Golden Fried Prawns
Golden Fried Prawns are perfect, delectable appetizers for any party, or event. This is a simple yet luscious dish made with prawns or shrimps marinated in a simple battered paste and deep-fried till the colour becomes golden. The coating gets very crunchy once the frying is done. If little spices are requested, chilli sauce or chilli powder is added to the batter to make the preparation a little spicier.
17. Masala Soft Drinks
In the scorching heat of Kolkata in the summer days, everyone needs to refresh themselves and nothing can be better opted than Masala Soft Drink to do it. Just a teaspoon of black salt along with a little amount of chaat masala mixed into the desired soft drink plays the game. This is a high-demand beverage in the Summers.
18. Brownie With Vanilla Ice Cream
People with a sweet tooth are definitely going to love this bomb combination of Vanilla Ice Cream, topped up with a big chunk of Brownie and chocolate syrup on top to liquefy the solids. Considered to be one of the best-selling desserts ever without any hassle.
19. Phirni
Phirni, also called Firni, is a scrumptious traditional North Indian style sweet pudding made with basmati rice, nuts, milk, and sugar and scented with Saffron or Rose Water for its essence.
20. Shahi Tukra
Shahi Tukra is a royal dessert recipe made with pieces of bread fried in homemade ghee, dipped in saffron-flavoured sugar syrup and then drizzling creamy, luscious rabdi on top. This Royal dessert is one of the best yet simple desserts.
