Even if perhaps obvious, it's worth remembering, reminding that spices and aromatics are highly oil soluble and a great amount of flavor can be delivered through a bit of infused oil.

Here's how #Nihari - a long cooked stew is served up - with a final ladel of spiced oil. The craft and skill of the famed spots often owes much to that final flavoring.
/5 s video/

#KitchenScience #KitchenChemistry
#Cooking #KitchenTips
#DasEatsKolkata22

16/n

Waking up to a dark dreary rainy morning in Pittsburgh and can't believe 2 Sundays ago in #Kolkata got my sister and headed out by dawn and grabbed some nihari for breakfast before they ran out by 6:30 am. All her life in Kolkata and she'd never been there.

Not exactly #StreetFood but no place to sit down so it was take out, and a chance for some #StreetPhotography

#DasEatsKolkata22 #DasKolkataStreets22

Just adding a tag #DasKolkataStreets22 - to this thread of #Kolkata pics so I can find it later. Distinct from the foods in the #DasEatsKolkata22 thread and posts

More pics to follow this - hmm fish/wet market ones might need a CW

Say hello to my little friend!

#PressureCooker #Food #Cooking
#DasEatsKolkata22

Say hello to my little friend!

#PressureCooker #Food #Cooking
#DasEatsKolkata22

Say hello to my little friend!

#PressureCooker
#DasEatsKolkata22

Who will reign supreme?!

#Kolkata #StoreNames #Literature #Food #pun #DasEatsKolkata22 (but didn't eat/drink at either)

Alright - so here's the answer. It's #NolenGur which is syrup from the date palm - the winter specialty in Bengal, #Kolkata
It's not date syrup like dibbis, but the sap thickened as in maple syrup. This is boiled down to solid as in jaggery (the brown discs). Palmyra palm sap is similarly made into jaggery (a lot more in Thailand).

It's sold in sweet shops in jars, see👇🏽 , but better stuff in the clay pots from villages that produce

#DasEatsKolkata22

https://mastodon.online/@SRDas/109505680961149786

Ok last final hint 😀

Of course I tasted some. Didn't even have to ask, the shopkeeper offered (in the lid of an opened jar)
It was delicious!

Surely you know what it is (if not you totally should - and I'll tell you shortly)

#DasEatsKolkata22

Last hint - this should give it away. Here's another view of the vendor's stall I got the jars from

Answer in the next couple of hours

#DasEatsKolkata22
#Kolkata #LakeMarket #Food

If you're wondering about the #Kolkata or #Bengal Gondhoraj lebu (literally AromaKing lime) is, this is what it looks like - an elongated lime. It's exceedingly fragrant as the name indicates - and different from the Rangpur lime.

I was asked to make some drinks at a party last night - with not too many ingredients. Thankfully there were some of these limes - and I made myself a #daiquiri too. (These had fair bit bit of juice).

see: https://www.thebetterindia.com/186253/gondhoraj-lebu-bengal-fragrance-king-of-lemons-food-india/

#Cocktail
#DasEatsKolkata22

And adding a couple of daytime #StreetPhotography & #StreetFood pics
from the #Kolkata High Court area.

#Photography #DasEatsKolkata22

More #Fruit for this #Kolkata thread
I've already told you about the Aata or custard apples, now it's time for the sapota (or chikoo) - another "New World" fruit spread by the Spanish

[zapota is from the Spanish zapote [saˈpote], which ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word tzapotl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota ]

Delightful and juicy - the flesh is ever so slightly grainy.

#DasEatsKolkata22

More #Fruit for this #Kolkata thread
I've already told you about the Aata or custard apples, now it's time for the sapota (or chikoo) - another "New World" fruit spread by the Spanish

[zapota is from the Spanish zapote [saˈpote], which ultimately derives from the Nahuatl word tzapotl
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manilkara_zapota ]

Delightful and juicy - the flesh is ever so slightly grainy.

#DasEatsKolkata22

I'm reposting these pics of the #Jilipi maker
on BT road. These pics turned out as nice as that hot fresh jilipi I ate was delectable (even if I say so myself)

After watching him make so many , I asked if I could have a fresh hot one just out of the syrup and I received one (with much thanks!) #grateful​

#StreetFood #Snacks
#DasEatsKolkata22​
#photography​

Link to the post with a vid of the jilipi (Jalebi) making process 👇🏽
https://mastodon.online/@SRDas/109543568763702222

I'm reposting these pics of the #Jilipi maker
on BT road. These pics turned out as nice as that hot fresh jilipi I ate was delectable (even if I say so myself)

After watching him make so many , I asked if I could have a fresh hot one just out of the syrup and I received one (with much thanks!) #grateful​

#StreetFood #Snacks
#DasEatsKolkata22​
#photography​

Link to the post with a vid of the jilipi (Jalebi) making process 👇🏽
https://mastodon.online/@SRDas/109543568763702222

I had daab (young, tender coconut, in husk) a few days ago but it wasn't good - terroir, where it grows and takes up water makes a big difference. Rectified at this fine vendor.
Short 8s vid of him cutting it.
These didn't have any tender flesh inside - just the water - hint of sweetness and totally refreshing and much needed as we went about our day.
(40 rupees INR, so about 50¢ US 😭)

#Fruit #Kolkata
#DasEatsKolkata22

I had daab (young, tender coconut, in husk) a few days ago but it wasn't good - terroir, where it grows and takes up water makes a big difference. Rectified at this fine vendor.
Short 8s vid of him cutting it.
These didn't have any tender flesh inside - just the water - hint of sweetness and totally refreshing and much needed as we went about our day.
(40 rupees INR, so about 50¢ US 😭)

#Fruit #Kolkata
#DasEatsKolkata22

Didn't have much of a chance to have a drink till tonight
Most excellent libation at the SodaBottleOpenerWala location that's opened recently in #Kolkata - the Simply Imly #Cocktail
House tamarind puree (that's the imly), bourbon (Jim Beam I was informed), bitters, fresh lime and pineapple juices, salt and chilli flakes on glass
(The things on the skewer are spiced tamarind)

#DasEatsKolkata22

Didn't have much of a chance to have a drink till tonight
Most excellent libation at the SodaBottleOpenerWala location that's opened recently in #Kolkata - the Simply Imly:
House tamarind puree (that's the imly), bourbon (Jim Beam I was informed), bitters, fresh lime and pineapple juices, salt and chilli flakes on glass
(The things on the skewer are spiced tamarind)

#DasEatsKolkata22