Regional Recipe Contest – Dhaka

Regional Recipe Contest- Dhaka

The Wannabe Cook team hosted a number of recipe contests before-but this time the team came up with something unique! As the members of the Wannabe Cook group are from all over Bangladesh, the team wanted to uplift Bangladesh’s rich culinary heritage by organizing regional recipe contests.

So, why not start with the capital city Dhaka!

Dhaka has a rich culinary heritage which is influenced by its history, geography and of course the diverse culture. Due to the Mughal era, the city has been introduced to a variety of spices, cooking techniques and flavorful dishes that are still relevant today. We can still taste the rich Mughal dishes in parts of Dhaka today-especially Old Dhaka! Also, due to the cultural diversity, the city has adapted the culinary traditions of different communities such as the Persian, Turkish, Portuguese etc. This diversity has also given birth to many delicate sweets and flavorful dishes. And of course-how can one forget the geographical benefit that the city enjoys! The city is located on the banks of the Buriganga river and thus enjoys a variety of fresh ingredients! This provides access to a wide range of freshwater fish and seafood, while the surrounding fertile lands offer fresh vegetables, fruits, and spices. This abundance of local ingredients is integral to the city’s rich culinary traditions.

So, the team geared up for its first regional recipe contest! Start of the Contest!

The team geared up the members of the group by asking them to invite their friends and families living in Dhaka to make the Dhaka team stronger!

The regional recipe contest was announced on the 8th of June, 2024.

The modality of the contest was: Participate in the recipe contest and stand a chance to win 500 TK cash! Three winners would be selected based on their authenticity, picture quality, group activity, and community engagement.

The Famous Dhakaiya Dishes!

Over the next few days, we were infused with some of the mouth-watering dishes!

These dishes literally made me hungry! I just wanted to go straight to Dhaka and indulge in it! Not just that-but the dishes also made me homesick as I reminisced about the days where the family would get together to enjoy a wholesome feast. But none-the-less, at least thanks to the contest, I can try the recipes and enjoy it from here!

Some of the top picked recipes for me were:

Puran Dhaka famous Kacchi biryani: This is a dish that you cannot go wrong with! Everybody loves a flavorful, served hot kacchi biryani with those big alo (potato) pieces popping out! And puran Dhaka (Old Dhaka) is famous for this timeless dish. Every time I crave this dish, I some where miss those festive days spent back in Bangladesh with my friends and family. When ever I hear ‘Kacchi Biryani’, a gush of excitement fills up my heart which gives a sense of joy!

As a child, my family and I used to go to puran Dhaka every week to indulge in such rich food. My fupi (aunt) used to live in Puran Dhaka and thus, every weekend was like a celebration! Oh, how I miss my fupi’s kacchi Biryani! The layers of tender, marinated meat with the soft aloo would perfectly infuse into the rice-making the dish even more flavorful and delightful! It was more than just a dish. It evoked a sense of joy and celebration where everyone would come together to enjoy the simple things in life. I am glad that through this contest, I can now try the authentic recipe of puran Dhaka kacchi Biryani. Can’t wait to try it and share pictures in The Wannabe Cook group!

Since I am a tea lover, bakarkhani was something that I always cherished. It is a sweet and/or savory bread that can also be enjoyed just by itself. This simple dish evoked a sense of warmth and comfort. Bakarkhani is a dish that passes down the tradition from generations to generations. The flakiness of the bread and the crispy golden crust speaks of the cooks who crafted this dish with so much love and care.
I would definitely try this recipe but I doubt I can make it with so much love and patience!

Kebabs are my all time favourite! And recently, I have been seeing a lot of chapli kebab recipes on Instagram. I remember my mother used to make delicious chapli kebabs at home. I still remember when I used to take a bite of the crunchy kebab, I could taste the tangy, juicy and spicy flavors burst into my mouth! The aromatic spices that would blend in with the minced beef would promise a taste of experience that is both hearty and irresistible!

Whenever I go back to Bangladesh, this is a must have dish!