Rich and Delectable Cuisine in Bangladesh

The cuisine of Bangladesh is rich, delicious, and offers incredible variety from region to region. There are, however, some food items that are common to all regions, including rice, lentils, and fish. Spice lovers visiting Bangladesh will be happy to know that this country’s cuisine incorporates a wide variety of seasonings and spices, including chili, turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger and garlic. For visitors who are not used to spicy food, some dishes might take some getting used to.

Fish is very popular throughout Bangladesh. Without fish and rice, Bengali cuisine is incomplete.

Beef is also extensively found in Bangladeshi cuisine, especially in the feasts and banquets. For visitors from the US or UK accustomed to red meat, there are plenty of sumptuous beef dishes to look forward to.

A traditional and popular Bengali dish is Panta Ilish, which is an unusual and very tasty meal made of stale rice in soup, served along with fried Hilsa slices, and pepped up with dried fish, pickles, daal, onion and green chilies. This dish is served during the Pohela Boishakh festival in the country.

If you have a sweet tooth, you will be delighted with the endless varieties of Bangladeshi sweets. Bangladesh cuisine offers a rich variety of sweet dishes that include Doi (sweetened curd), Roshogolla, Gulab Jamun, Peetha (rice cakes), and lots more. 

Regional Delicacies

The South. The Southern part of Bangladesh includes the Khulna Division, Chittagong Division, and the Barisal Division, and is close to the sea. Fish is a large and important part of the diet in this area, and a special type of dried fish known as shukti is a specialty in these parts.

Dhaka. This historical city’s cuisine exhibits some influence from both Persian and Arabic cultures. While you’re enjoying the history of this old city, you’ll be able to enjoy its fine cuisine, and take a look in some of the specialty shops for some rare and unusual treats.

The West and Northwest. The cuisine in these parts of Bangladesh differs from Dhaka, with less Persian and Arabic influence. You’ll find more vegetable curries here, and foods are more heavily seasoned. If you visit this part of Bangladesh, you’ll get a chance to taste some of the delicious river fish dishes prepared in a most distinctive style.

Northeast. This region features several large lakes, and much of the cuisine makes use of the local lake fish. The food here shares some similarity with the neighboring Indian state of Assam, from where fruits and pickles such as Shatkora and Satkorhai are brought and used in the local cuisine. 

Restaurants

You will find many restaurants in the main cities of Bangladesh, and some of the higher-end hotels also serve Western cuisine. Don’t miss out the mouth-watering curries accompanied by rice, found in many local restaurants around Bangladesh.