We have already spoken a lot about the multi ethnic influence on the cultural landscape of Kolkata.
Chinese play a very important role in this arena. Around the 18th Century, the Chinese emigrated from China to work at the Calcutta port and Madras Port.
Today the unofficial estimates put the number of Chinese in Kolkata anywhere from 5,000 to 200,000. The Chinese have significantly contributed to the socio-economic fabric of the society. Today a majority are engaged in business leather products, mainly show shops lining Bentinck Street, dentistry, beauty parlours and of course my favourite restaurants. Kolkata is the only city in India to have a Chinatown today.
The Chinese Community from Canton settled at Chinatown Tangra, a place on the eastern fringe of Kolkata post World War II. Dentistry &Leather processing and shoe making was their primary business. However around the mid-seventies many tannery owners sold off their business, and tried establishing themselves as restaurateurs. And as a results the food loving Kolkatans fell for Chinese food (say Tangra Type Chinese).
The Macher Jhol Bhaat eating bengali is hugely influenced by the Chinese Food. Nothing works better on for family dinner or lunch than a bowl of Sweet Corn Soup, Fried Rice and Chilli chicken. Today we can easily say that Fried Rice Chilli Chicken is the Bengali National food. J
Inspite of dingy lanes and stinky joints Tangra rocks with some great joints like Beijing, Kimliloy, Kimling, Big Boss, Kafulok, China Garden and many more
Ingredients:
500gms Chicken breast skinned and boned
Salt to taste
1/2 Tablespoon White Pepper +1/2 Tablespoon Black Pepper
1 cup white cooking oil for deep frying
2 Medium Red Onions, diced in medium size
½ a pod of Garlic, about 7-8 flakes roughly chopped
Enough Corn flour for coating chicken pieces + 2 eggs
6-8 green chillies, deseeded and chopped diagonally
½ Cup water
¼ Teaspoon of MSG(Aa-ji-Nomoto)
¼ Cup Dark Soya sauce + ¼ Cup Light Soya sauce
2 Teaspoon corn flour mixed in ½ Cup Water
1 Tablespoon white Cooking Oil
Instructions:
Cut the Chicken into 1 inch cubes or bite size pieces
Keep in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with little salt and half of the Pepper powder
Set aside for 15 minutes
Now mix Corn flour + eggs to coat the chicken pieces
Shake off any extra corn flour
Heat 1 cup white oil in a Wok and deep fry the chicken pieces in batches
Fry till they turn into nice Golden colour
Drain the oil and keep aside
Now remove the oil from the Wok (Retain for future frying)
Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil and heat
Add the Onions, Garlic and chopped chillies and fry quickly for 30 seconds on high heat
Add the deep fried Chicken pieces and stir for another 30 seconds
Add very little salt, rest of the pepper and MSG crystals
Stir and fold well by shaking the Wok in a forwardly motion and cook for 30 seconds
Now pour in the Soya Sauce (both the dark and light sauce)
Cook for 2 minutes
Now pour in the Corn flour mix at the centre of the Wok
Wait for 10 seconds and then fold well to coat all the chicken pieces nicely
Chilli Chicken is ready to go with a plate of Hakka Chow Mien or Mixed Fried Rice…Try in the Bong Style Chilli Chicken as authentic as it can be…
Chinese play a very important role in this arena. Around the 18th Century, the Chinese emigrated from China to work at the Calcutta port and Madras Port.
Today the unofficial estimates put the number of Chinese in Kolkata anywhere from 5,000 to 200,000. The Chinese have significantly contributed to the socio-economic fabric of the society. Today a majority are engaged in business leather products, mainly show shops lining Bentinck Street, dentistry, beauty parlours and of course my favourite restaurants. Kolkata is the only city in India to have a Chinatown today.
The Chinese Community from Canton settled at Chinatown Tangra, a place on the eastern fringe of Kolkata post World War II. Dentistry &Leather processing and shoe making was their primary business. However around the mid-seventies many tannery owners sold off their business, and tried establishing themselves as restaurateurs. And as a results the food loving Kolkatans fell for Chinese food (say Tangra Type Chinese).
The Macher Jhol Bhaat eating bengali is hugely influenced by the Chinese Food. Nothing works better on for family dinner or lunch than a bowl of Sweet Corn Soup, Fried Rice and Chilli chicken. Today we can easily say that Fried Rice Chilli Chicken is the Bengali National food. J
Inspite of dingy lanes and stinky joints Tangra rocks with some great joints like Beijing, Kimliloy, Kimling, Big Boss, Kafulok, China Garden and many more
Ingredients:
500gms Chicken breast skinned and boned
Salt to taste
1/2 Tablespoon White Pepper +1/2 Tablespoon Black Pepper
1 cup white cooking oil for deep frying
2 Medium Red Onions, diced in medium size
½ a pod of Garlic, about 7-8 flakes roughly chopped
Enough Corn flour for coating chicken pieces + 2 eggs
6-8 green chillies, deseeded and chopped diagonally
½ Cup water
¼ Teaspoon of MSG(Aa-ji-Nomoto)
¼ Cup Dark Soya sauce + ¼ Cup Light Soya sauce
2 Teaspoon corn flour mixed in ½ Cup Water
1 Tablespoon white Cooking Oil
Instructions:
Cut the Chicken into 1 inch cubes or bite size pieces
Keep in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with little salt and half of the Pepper powder
Set aside for 15 minutes
Now mix Corn flour + eggs to coat the chicken pieces
Shake off any extra corn flour
Heat 1 cup white oil in a Wok and deep fry the chicken pieces in batches
Fry till they turn into nice Golden colour
Drain the oil and keep aside
Now remove the oil from the Wok (Retain for future frying)
Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil and heat
Add the Onions, Garlic and chopped chillies and fry quickly for 30 seconds on high heat
Add the deep fried Chicken pieces and stir for another 30 seconds
Add very little salt, rest of the pepper and MSG crystals
Stir and fold well by shaking the Wok in a forwardly motion and cook for 30 seconds
Now pour in the Soya Sauce (both the dark and light sauce)
Cook for 2 minutes
Now pour in the Corn flour mix at the centre of the Wok
Wait for 10 seconds and then fold well to coat all the chicken pieces nicely
