How To Make Bengali Exotic Dish "Bhapa Chingri"

Indian food dishes are famous and are loved worldwide and as known to everyone, India is a diversified land having many cultures together. Bengal or West Bengal is known as the sweetest part of India as the Bengali language has been voted the "Sweetest Language of the World" by UNESCO. Apart from language, Bengali dishes are also famous worldwide. Within that huge list of dishes, today I am going to share a very interesting recipe which is known as "Bhapa Chingri".

 For making Bhapa Chnigri, first, let us see the ingredients that we will require :

1) Chingri (Prawn) - Medium size

2) Shorshey Bata (Mustard Paste)

3) Posto (Poppy Seeds)

4) Narkol Bata (Coconut Paste)

5) Holud (Turmeric)

6) Kolapata (Banana Leaf) - The number of leaves depends on the number of bhapa you want to make

7) Noon (Salt)

8) Shorsher Tel (Mustard Oil)

9) Shuto (Thread, the common ones used for weaving fabric)

10) Steal Tiffin Box

The Process :

First of all, clean the prawns very well and eliminate all the antennas carefully. After cleaning them, mix the prawns well with some turmeric and salt (according to the taste) and leave them to marinate for few minutes. While the prawns get marinated, at that time you will have to focus on preparing the main masala for the bhapa chingri. In a bowl, you have to take mustard seeds and make a paste of that using either Shil Nora (Grinding Stone) or Mixture Grinder. Infact nowadays, the readymade paste of mustard and poppy seeds are available in the market so you can always save your time by using them.The mustard, the posto and the coconut paste should be made out in the same way. Coconut paste is not popularly found in the market, so it is better to make a paste at home using the already mentioned methods. 

   After all the pastes are ready, you have to mix them together with salt and turmeric (according to the taste) and apply them to the already marinated prawns. After covering the prawns with the masala properly, you have to keep the prawns on the clear banana leaf (make sure the banana leaves are washed well before using) and before wrapping the prawns with the leaf, you have to place one or two green chillies without chopping, on the top of the prawns and add a few drops of mustard oil to the same. Then just like we wrap gifts from four sides, you have to wrap ready to cook prawns in the same way and tie it using the thread from four sides so that the banana leaf do not start to open while the cooking process.  

  After finishing the above processes, you can set the cooking pot on the gas pouring some clear water in it and then allow it to heat for some time. While the water starts heating, put the bhapas which you have made using bana leaves inside a steel box along with a cover so that the box can be closed tightly and place it inside the hot pot in the water. The water level should not cross the lead of the box and should only touch till some length from the bottom. Leave the full thing around 15 to 20 minutes in seam (medium heat) and if necessary, you can cover the hotpot with a cover. Lastly you are absolutely ready to serve Chingri Bhapa with Gorom Bhaat (Hot Rice). 

   This dish can be enjoyed by an age of people (leaving out the infants and kids, however kids above 10 years can taste some) and is absolutely a winner among all the dishes of Prawn.

Let me know in the comment section, if you did like the recipe!

Home Schooling During Pandemic

 The school was all about fun, isn't it? Remember how we used to play around the fields of the school with friends and get educated sitting in front of our teachers. Remember how we trembled when Principle ma'am came to visit our classes? That tension just before entering the examination hall and excitement to review the answers with friends (especially maths). I can go on writing about memories of school or telling someone if asked about my school because we have experienced all of that and still have very fresh memories. But ever imagined if we ask the same question after few years to those who are getting the primary level of education these days, i.e., the kids, what will they answer?

  Probable answers they can give: "I can't say properly, because all I have done are online classes" ; "I do not remember how does a classroom look like! My home was my classroom" ; "Playing with friends, oh yes we used to play various kinds of video games" etc. This Pandemic (Covid 19) is not only harmful to adults and their jobs but kids too. They wake up in the morning, eat something for breakfast, and gets fixed infront of laptops, mobile phones and I Pads. Try to follow the instructions given by teachers and perform the same. No, everything doesn't look so good and smooth because as a climax, internet problems and disruptions do take place due to which the kids miss out on some crucial portions.

  It is known to us that there is no other way right now but you can always make a way for your children, or if you know any such kind of children going through a similar phase. You can tell them stories about your school life that how you used to enjoy with friends and as soon as the school reopens how they will also enjoy it in the same way! Also, you must take them to a park nearby so that they can get some fresh air out of the digital world and make them do some exercise, cycling, skipping, etc. Also, give them storybooks to read and interactive games like puzzles, building blocks which will help their thinking power to expand. 

  The digital world sounds great, especially when everything is in our grasp so easily! But at times we adults also feel lonely inspite of having so many followers on social media sites. Just think, if we get so much stressed out due to digital platforms at times, what the kids are going through? They are even doing picnics online! So this is the time when we have to be a bit more responsible towards the children, "Physically".

Manali Dutta

Digital Marketer