Durga Puja special: Prepare this Assamese-style festive spread at home

Durga Puja is here and we’re all set to indulge in the fiesta of happiness and zeal with celebration of good over evil is celebrated.

Right from the day of Mahalaya, every Assamese starts feeling exuberant and cheerful with lots of nostalgia. Durga Puja means pandal hopping, sound of dhak, wearing new clothes, adda with near and dear ones, and lots of good food.

The best part of festivities in Assam is that there is no limit to what one can eat. During this time, people usually do not cook much at home as they prefer hogging at street-side stalls and restaurants. 

But if you’re planning to host a festive lunch for your friends and family, here are some of the best and all time favourite dishes you can prepare that are loved by everyone and people of all ages.

Ghugni

A street food dish, Ghugni is prepared using white peas and spices. Enjoy this snack with Puffed Rice or Luchi, with the side of chopped onions and green chillies. Squeeze a few drops of lime juice for the extra punch. 

Vegetable Chop

An immensely popular snack sold in almost every corner of Assam, starting from street food vendors to popular restaurants. Vegetable Chop is an amalgamation of carrots, boiled potatoes, peas, onion, and peanuts, along with few spices which are shaped and coated with breadcrumbs and then deep fried till crispy. Serve with mustard or mint dip.

Khichri

Auspicious to the celebrations, Khichri is a traditional preparation during the festival of Durga Puja. Prepared by roasting yellow dal and rice and in a mix of vegetables, this dish is easy and quick to make and will appeal to people of all ages.

Also read: Assam govt issues COVID-19 SOP for upcoming Durga Puja

Bilahir Tok

Bilahir Tok is a sweet, tangy, and spicy chutney. Chopped tomatoes are cooked with sugar/jaggery, cashews and raisins in ground panch phoran masala. It is mostly served as a condiment.

Bengena Bhaja

This crispy eggplant fritter is a popular snack served at home and at the pandals during the festival. Prepared by deep-frying thin eggplant slices dipped in gram flour batter, this fritter is best served piping hot. 

Luchi

Luchi is said to be the Assamese cousin of pooris. It is made in maida, which makes it softer. Have any curry (Aloo Dum or Doi Chicken) on your plate and be assured that Luchi will go well with it.

Doi Maas

Doi Maas is the preparation of rohu fish in curd and spice gravy. A blend of sour, sweet, and spicy flavours, it goes best with steamed joha rice.

Aloo Diya Murgi

Aloo Diya Murgi aka home-style chicken curry is a succulent and comforting recipe cooked in mildly-spiced onion-tomato gravy. For any Assamese, addition of large potato chunks in a curry is must and speciality as well. Pair it with Plain Rice or Mitha Pulao. 

Jalukia Patha Mangso

This traditional mutton curry is popular and is a must-have during the festival. The mutton is flavoured with lots of black pepper, ginger, garlic, cloves, cardamoms, and green chillies. Raw papaya and large potato chunks are added to it for enhancing the taste. Team up with Luchi or Plain Rice. 

Payox

Payox is a traditional dessert and loved by all. It is prepared with milk, joha rice, sugar, raisins, cashew, and flavoured with bay leaf and cardamoms.

Also read: Durga Puja committee theme ‘Durga – The Destroyer of Corona’