Pohela Boishakh 2025: 6 essential Bengali New Year dishes you can¡¯t miss for the perfect feast
Pohela Boishakh hits different when there¡¯s good food on the table. From slow-cooked magic to sweets that basically hug you, these six dishes bring all the vibes. Skip the usual¡ªtry these flavours that turn the Bengali New Year into something you¡¯ll actually remember.
Today is the first day of the Bengali calendar and the day also welcomes the infectious energy of Pohela Boishakh ¡ª a sacred festival for new beginnings, cultural pride, and an excuse to enjoy a kind of food that makes the heart (and stomach) very, very happy. Whether you are experiencing the festivities for the first time or have celebrated throughout your life, here are six must-try dishes for Pohela Boishakh immerse you in the true flavour of this vibrant celebration.
Shorshe Ilish (Hilsa in mustard curry)
We'll begin with a showstopper. No Bengali celebration would be complete without Ilish (hilsa). This beautifully prepared fish with a powerful mustard gravy is rich, bold, and so crave-able. It's a nostalgic favorite and a celebratory necessity - perfect when paired with hot steaming rice.
Chingri Malai Curry (Prawns in coconut milk)
This one is beauty on a plate. Large prawns are cooked in a velvety smooth coconut milk gravy, delicately spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, and a touch of sweetness. It is a light and creamy dish packed with flavour¡ªan ideal dish for those who like the decadent taste without the heat. Just serve with fragrant white rice and you're away.
Luchi & Aloo¡¯r Dom
A comfort food classic and it hits differently during the morning of a celebration. Luchi is deep-fried, puffed bread made from refined flour. It's light, crispy, and combined with Aloo¡¯r Dom, a spiced, slightly tangy potato curry, slow-cooked with tomatoes, ginger, and Bengali spices. It is that kind of combination that keeps you going back for ¡®just one more bite.
Kosha Mangsho (slow-cooked spicy mutton)
This is the epitome of rich, meaty indulgence. Mutton (or goat meat) is slow-cooked with onions, garlic, ginger, and a blend of warm spices for hours until the meat is tender and melts in your mouth, surrounded by a thick, spicy gravy. This dish will make you want to recline, unbutton your kurta, and sleep.
Mishti Pulao
This flavorful and minimally-sweet pulao made with gobindobhog rice (a fragrant short grain), ghee, raisins, cashews, saffron and whole spices like clove and cardamom is simply aromatic. This pulao is lightly sweet in a way that does not overwhelm and is perfect with rich curries like kosha mangsho or chicken rezala. A most festive dish, indeed.
Rosogolla & Mishti Doi
No Bengali New Year will be complete without a sweet ending, right? Rosogolla are cheese balls soaked in sugar syrup that are soft and spongy; light and airy, and just sweet enough! Mishti Doi, on the other hand, is a thick unsweetened yogurt that is caramel-colored and made from simmered milk and jaggery. It is cool and creamy, basically an indulgence, and yes, the cherry on top.
This Pohela Boishakh, forget the usual and enjoy this flavourful Bengali celebration. From the tartness of mustard to the thickness of coconut and sweetness of Mishti Doi, every dish has a story. Shubho Noboborsho! Let¡¯s eat
Kriti Shukla is a lifestyle journalist with over two years of experience, writing about celebrity fashion, beauty, and culture. She covers trends both on and off the red carpet, with a sharp editorial eye and a knack for spotting what¡¯s current. Based in Delhi, Kriti blends her love for glamour and culture with a deep understanding of the zeitgeist.
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