What is Bengal famous for? "Fish, Mishti Doi and Durga Puja"- ask anyone across the globe, this is the most common reply you will get. But, in reality, Bengal has much more to offer. It has a rich history that goes years back. Some historical trivia became world famous and some remained less explored. One of those less explored ones is the Sheherwali community and their royal cuisine. Who are Sheherwalis? History has it - some 300 years back in the 18th century, a group of Oswal Jain Community merchants migrated to Bengal from the desserts of Rajasthan. They settled in Murshidabad - the then capital of the Nawabs of Bengal. According to reports, these merchant and traders gradually became one of the most influential business communities in colonial India, and hence, the Sheherwali culture began to prosper in Bengal.
The Sheherwalis open-heartedly embraced the culture, cuisine and lifestyle of Bengal, which was heavily influenced by the Nawabs of Bengal. They adopted Bengali dhoti, kurta and sarees for their sartorial culture and various food items in their cuisine. With their lineage in the Western India and life in the Eastern India, this community created a mixed culture of their own that gradually became a sign of royalty in Bengal.
A group of Oswal Jain Community merchants settled in Murshidabad
Speaking about Sheherwali cuisine, according to Murshidabad Heritage Development Society, "It is possibly the finest vegetarian spread one can find, even in modern times, and is a wonderful melange of the cuisines of the west and the east of India."
"Flavours of foods rich in ghee and bold spicy tastes that could survive in the tough climate of Rajasthan, met the distinctive local flavours of Bengal and the royal cuisines of the Afghans and later the Mughals," the society wrote on their website. On that note, the Murshidabad Heritage Development Society, founded in 2010, aims to restore and revive the heritage of Murshidabad.
A confluence of culture is witnessed in the Sheherwali cuisine where vegetarian Rajasthani food is blended with Bengali spices like 'paanch phoron' and Nawabi ingredients like saffron, rosewater and dry fruits. The slow cooking process adds richness to these vegetarian dishes. Let's take you through some of the most popular dishes in the Sheherwali cuisine.
Here Are 5 Of The Most Famous Dishes From Sheherwali Food Culture:
Saloni Mewa Ki Khichdi- It tastes somewhat like Bengali sweet 'mihidana', but is overloaded with dry fruits and rosewater.
Chhena Bora- This is a dessert made out of cottage cheese. It has a hard crust and is soft from inside.
Kheere Ki Kachori- As the name says, it is a kachori with a filling of grated cucumber, curd and spices; the shape of the kachori is like a round gujiya.
Neemas- It is a variation of what we call 'Daulat Ki Chaat' in Delhi.
Paniphal/Dal Ka Samosa- These are samosas made with dal or water chestnut filling.
To sum it all, here every dish carries a rich history of India, particularly of Bengal and Rajasthan. If you are a foodie, then we suggest, you must experience Sheherwali cuisine of Murshidabad.