A Bengali wedding is famous for its rich culture and traditions and one of the highlight points of these Bengali weddings is food. The menu in a Bengali wedding is a festival that provides mouth-watering food. They provide diverse dishes from fragrant biryani to sweet foods like rosogulla and sandesh. The menus consist of a number of traditional dishes which are carried forward generation after generation, representing the culinary legacy of Bengal. The Bengali wedding cuisine is a pure tradition that transforms each meal into a memorable one for the guests.
Have a look at these delicious dishes served at Bengali weddings which leave guests delighted. We have curated a selection of all the food from starters to drinks.
Table of Content
- Traditional Bengali Starters
- Appetizers and Soups
- Main Course
- Rice and Bread
- Side Dishes
- Desserts
- Drinks
Bengali Wedding Menu
➥ Traditional Bengali Starters
Traditional Bengali starters have a variety of dishes that can be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. These starters are flavorful and delicious wedding meals, making for a wonderful experience from the beginning.
☛ Starters
1. Shingara
It is a crispy flaky pastry filled with spicy potatoes, peas and nuts. It also goes by the name Samosas. It is a Bengali version of a small samosa, as compared to the normal samosa.
2. Aloo Chop
Aloo chops are chilli-mashed potato fritters(pakoras) deep-fried to golden brown. It is a popular street food in Bengal. Aloo chop is served with rice or a hot tea.
3. Beguni
It is a cut eggplant (brinjal) which is immersed in a gram-flour batter prior to being fried or deep fried in oil.
4. Vegetable Pakoras
It is a mixed vegetable fritter which is a crispy and delicious dish. It consists of vegetables such as onion, potato, gram flour spices and herbs. They are also referred to as pakora or pakura
5. Phuchka
It is a street food which is also referred to as golgappa or water balls. They consist of small puris filled with mashed potatoes and spicy water.
☛ Non-Veg Starters
1. Machh’er Chop
Machh’er chop is a fish pakora of tender spiced fish fillets. It is a Bengali traditional fish croquette
2. Murg Malai Tikka
It is marinated chicken piece grilled to perfection in a creamy manner.
3. Chingri Paturi
Chingri Paturi is a Bengali dish in which prawns are covered with banana leaves and cooked using Bengali spices.
4. Kakori kebab
Kakori Kebab is spiced chopped meat kebab done traditionally with Bengali flavors.
➥ Appetizers and Soups
Soups and Appetizer are ideal to get your guests’ appetite going. These Bengali courses not only supplement the meal but also create a wonderful mood for the rest of the courses.
1. Dhokar Dalna
Dhokar dalna is a spicy lentil cake curry served with potatoes. It consists of ground yellow split peas flavored with spices and shallow-fried. These cakes are cooked in spicy tomato gravy making it a hearty and flavorful dish.
2. Shukto
Shukto is a mixed vegetable curry with a slight bitterness, usually had as an accompaniment. The dish is seasoned with a blend of spices such as panch phoran (Bengali five-spice mixture) and a pinch of jaggery for sweetness.
➥ Main Course
Main course is where Bengali cuisine stands unparalleled. There are several Bengali preparations in the main course which can be either vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
Veg Main Course
1. Aloo Posto
Potatoes cooked with poppy seeds, the quintessential Bengali veggie dish. This one balances out the earthy flavors of potatoes with nutty poppy seeds, hot green chilies and some savory Bengali spices & seasonings
2. Cholar Dal
Bengal gram lentils in coconut and ginger with a mixture of spices such as cumin, asafoetida and bay leaf. This Bengali preparation is slightly sweet and generally served with fried rice or luchi.
3. Potoler Dolma
A traditional Bengali preparation of pointed gourd (potol) filled with spiced potato.
4. Echorer Dalna
Echorer dalna is a tasty Bengali curry prepared with raw jackfruit (echore). It is a favourite veg dish renowned for its flavor and texture and is usually served with chapati or rice.
Non-Veg Main Course
1. Chingri Malai Curry
In this curry, the prawns are cooked in a rich coconut milk sauce with the inclusion of spices like ginger, garlic and green chilies. This is a rich and creamy dish popular among Bengali cuisine.
2. Kosha Mangsho
The mutton pieces are slow-cooked along with a combination of spices like cumin, coriander, garam masala and asafoetida and this gives a rich and thick gravy. Slow cooking tenderizes the meat.
3. Ilish Macher Paturi
A Bengali biye is not complete without hilsa fish, it is the star of a wedding dish. Hilsa fish is cooked in mustard seed paste with green chilies and a trace of turmeric. It is a quintessential Bengali delicacy famous for its tangy and spicy taste.
➥ Rice and Bread
Both rice and bread (roti) have important places in the Bengali wedding menu. Let us see a brief description of how they are incorporated:
1. Basanti Pulao
It is a common Bengali pulao that is prepared using ghee, dry fruits, and raisins. The specialty of this pulao is that it is light yellow in color and sweet in flavor.
2. Basmati Rice
It is a light and scented rice that is suitable for any curry. It is the priority to be served at a Bengali meal.
3. Luchi
Luchi is a light and fried bread that is airy and soft. It is used with rice, vegetable curries and gravies.
4. Paratha
It is a flaky flatbread which may be filled with different stuffings like spicy mashed potatoes or else it can be had plain. Parathas are accompanied by spicy gravies or vegetable preparations.
➥ Side Dishes
The following are some Side dishes that may be included in a Bengali wedding menu
1. Bengali Chutney
Different varieties of chutneys are served in Bengali weddings some of them being Kancha Amer Tok, Narkel Bata, Kasundi and shukto chutney.
2. Salad
Salads of fresh vegetables with a light sauce are served in a Bengali wedding which are traditionally made from ingredients such as cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. It serves as a cooling contrast to the hot and spicy main courses.
➥ Desserts
Bengali weddings are famous for their creamy and delicious desserts. These are some of the most popular Bengali sweets that could be on a wedding menu
1. Rosogulla
Rosogulla is one of the most celebrated desserts in Bengal and you will get this recipe in every Bengali wedding menu. It is a spongy and soft ball prepared using chenna and dipped in light sugar syrup flavored with cardamom.
2. Sandesh
Sandesh or sondesh is a light sweet Bengali dessert prepared from fresh chenna and cardamom-flavored. It is garnished with saffron and pistachios.
3. Mishti Doi
It is a sweet yogurt which is smooth and creamy in texture prepared by fermenting milk and sugar and usually served chilled.
➥ Drinks
The following are some of the well-known drinks that may be included in a Bengali wedding menu
1. Mango Lassi
It is sweet and cool yogurt-based drink mixed with ripe mangoes. It is rich and offers a cooling contrast to hot food.
2. Nimbu Pani
A tangy lemon drink flavored with a little sugar and spices such as black salt and cumin. It is ideal for washing down the palate.
3. Chaas
A cold buttermilk beverage spiced and herbed with cumin and mint. It helps in digestion and balances the heavy flavors of the dish.
Conclusion
Bengali wedding cuisine is about striking a balance between classic spices and your guests’ tastes. From appetizers to sweet treats, every dish showcases the rich food culture of Bengal. By presenting a variety of dishes with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, you will make your wedding dinner an unforgettable one for all.
