In India every season relates to a celebration or festival. In Bengal, there is a very famous proverb " Baro masher Tero Parbon"(12 months with 13 festivals). In winter we can’t forget Nalen Gurer Sandesh(sweets made of palm jaggery), Jai Nagar r Mowa and best of all Pithas.
In different regions of India, this Poush Sankranti celebrates in different ways. In the State of Punjab its called Lohri. In Assam its called Bihu. In the southern part of India, it is celebrated as Pongal. In the Makar, Sankranti Bengalis celebrate Poush Parbon which is well known time for making Pithas.
Pithas are primarily made from a batter of rice flour, sooji(semolina), which is shaped and optionally filled with sweet or savory ingredients. The pouch of Pithas is called Khol and fillings are called Pur. Sweet Pithas typically include sugar, jaggery, grated coconut and flavored using cardamom. Depending on the type of Pitha, it can be fried in oil or ghee or slow-roasted over a fire or steamed or baked and rolled over a hot plate.
In the rural village of Bengal, rice flour is made by pressing it in Dheki(wooden grinder). I watched my mom, aunt and grandma are making rice flour using the Shil-Nora(grinding stone/mortar pestle). Now rice flour is easily available in grocery stores. There are several types of Pithas, I don’t have much culinary about Pithas, but able to make some. The fragrance of hot Pithas is awesome, though Pithas are tastes best when cold. Poush Sankranti without Pithas is unbelievable.
Patishapta
The below pick is Patishapta(sweet crepes with coconut and jaggery filling). This is a famous sweet among Bengali’s for celebrating this season.
Muger Bhaja Puli/ Mugsamli
This Pithe or sweet is a fried one. The outer part is made out of yellow lentil(known as Mug Dal) and Rice flour. The inner filling is the same as jaggery and coconut. After frying, it can be dipped in thick sugar syrup. This picture is only the fried one I didn’t dip in Sugar syrup.
Gokul Pithe
Gokul Pithe is another Bengali delicacy. First, the stuffing need to be made with grated coconut, sugar and khoya/ concentrate milk solid. A sugar syrup needs to be made out of water and jaggery and cardamom powder. Make a batter out of flour, semolina and rice flour. Then I made some small parts of the mixture and rolling them in palm dip them in batter and then dip in sugar syrup. It tastes heavenly.
Enjoy this Pithe when you ever in Bengal in the time of winter. Other than the household it is available in sweet shops also. If you want to make this in-home various recipe is available online.
Happy Makar Sankranti!!
