Differences between Bengali Hindu and Bengali Muslim

[Tom-tom]

Yeah, these are pithas, they come in different shapes and sizes and have different filings.

They all have distinct names too, for example chitol pita, bhapa pitha, patishapta, jhuri pitha, muthi pita and so on.

There's also the ornate nakshi pita and Bini pitha,
Bini pitha looks like a braid and I presume that's how it gets its name because Bini literally translates to braid, atleast in my dialect anyway.


This page may be of interest to you :

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Pitha

Are pithas of bengali origin or south indian?

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

Are pithas of bengali origin or south indian?

Hard to say but I would place my bets on the Bengal region (WB + Bangladesh).

Besides, we bangalis have the best pithas to show for it.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Today's housewives in BD, even who live in the villages have almost forgotten to prepare varieties of Pitha. Some stupid sent as usual a photograph (he is an expert of photo shopping) telling us how Chitai Pitha looks. I found them look like Puri, not Chitai. Anyway, Dhaka is now full of many machine-made unworthy Pithas sold in the shops. That photo shopper sent such a picture. I ate once a coconut Naru in Dhaka. I felt like vomiting it out.

The last time I ate Patishapta Pitha in a rich Muslim house in Bikrampur. Some of the ingredients are different than they are in my Faridpur. The Bikrampur one was very tasty. However, I do not remember what additional ingredients were there. Bikrampur was basically a cultured Hindu area. No wonder, the tasty Pitha culture was transmitted to Muslims. Bikrampur normal food is also tasty, even its men can cook tasty foods. Sometimes, I eat it in Japan.

My mum makes rice pudding with this sugary sweet substance gained from ddate tree. It's like this dark brown grainy thick substance kind of not runny like honey, but it's like the honey has been put in the fridge going a little hard.

She also puts cocnuts bits in it
..

I mentioned Nolen Gurer Payesh earlier.....Heaven on earth.

Thanks I wasn't sure about the name, I thought the text on it was a mistake, because I've always called it chitol pita

I don't bother with the names for pita, there's too many of them.

I just eat, knowing names is for those who can cook

View attachment 640080

Is this the one you're talking about ?

Na, eta onyo rokomer pitha.

Hard to say but I would place my bets on the Bengal region (WB + Bangladesh).


Besides, we bangalis have the best pithas to show for it.

Bangladesh.

I don't think the ghotis are much into pitha. They make other sweets: sita-bhog, lyangcha, ledi keni, pantua, and so on, with each having a special town where it is made 'best'. Finally, there is north Calcutta, that is the world headquarters for sweets of this sort. Not a pitha to be seen. I feel - I could be wrong - pitha is a peculiarly Bangal tradition.

 

[Michael Corleone]

You're overlooking the actual devil; Bollywood movies.

Bollywood movies are reason for the rise in sexual harassment of women and rape.

Bollywood is also turning good women into brats.

Every poor sod now thinks that all he has to do is ask and the shundori is his, and when the girls refuse they react aggressively.


And and they learn some third rate gundagiri and cheap dialogs from Bollywood, case in point this video :

Lmao funniest bit, he's trying to act intimidating but it's all so wrong lmao.... Look at his posture with the neck craning forward and spine bent at angle... Even a cat wouldn't be afraid

I’m not going to watch the video. But yes you’re right.

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

I’m not going to watch the video.

Why not lmao, it's pure entertainment.

 

[Bilal9]

Na, eta onyo rokomer pitha.

@Joe Shearer dada and @DalalErMaNodi I think this may be called Patishapta Pitha. Check with womenfolk in your family, they will know. The filling is sometimes payesh if the outer cover is like roti. But I have seen smaller wraps whose outer covering is fried and inner filling is coconut-sugar filling. Quite a treat - these things.

I think this was an influence to/from another food item in Spain (maybe because of their spice trade with us in the 1500's to 1800's). Maybe they gave it to us, or we gave it to them. The Spanish have this dessert called Empanadas, which my Colombian friends feed me all the time.

Colombian Empanadas come with all kinds of fruit and sugary fillings, the most common is Guava and Cream cheese. They can be baked/fried - or not, as well.

 

[Joe Shearer]

@Joe Shearer dada and @DalalErMaNodi I think this may be called Patishapta Pitha. Check with womenfolk in your family, they will know. The filling is sometimes payesh if the outer cover is like roti. But I have seen smaller wraps whose outer covering is fried and inner filling is coconut-sugar filling. Quite a treat - these things.

I think this was an influence to/from another food item in Spain (maybe because of their spice trade with us in the 1500's to 1800's). Maybe they gave it to us, or we gave it to them. The Spanish have this dessert called Empanadas, which my Colombian friends feed me all the time.

Colombian Empanadas come with all kinds of fruit and sugary fillings, the most common is Guava and Cream cheese. They can be baked/fried - or not, as well.

This is patishapta pitha.

​

Your picture was of a Narikel Puli Pitha.

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

This is patishapta pitha.

View attachment 640271
​

Your picture was of a Narikel Puli Pitha.

Ooh yes, these crepe like ones are very very good.

 

[Nilgiri]

A most fascinating exchange, albeit somewhat bittersweet, thank you @Joe Shearer and @bluesky ...you both made me chuckle at points too.

 

[Joe Shearer]

A most fascinating exchange, albeit somewhat bittersweet, thank you @Joe Shearer and @bluesky ...you both made me chuckle at points too.

It left me feeling heartsick and homesick.

If @Michael Corleone is right about Bejgaon, I need to remind him about Hari'r loot. I promise to do that on the steps of the Dhakeswari Mandir; if I am not alive to do it, one of my male cousins will.

 

[Tom-tom]

Buhrroy chutey, it's like this berry roughly the same size of a very sour taste. Dice some chilis and taramind and you got yourself a really nice chutney .

 

[Michael Corleone]

View attachment 640047

This is what "chitol pita" that I have known looks like, don't know if it's the wrong name...

chitai is solid mass... whereas this becomes a bit powdery when it gets cold... it has jaggery and coconut filling... my favorite pitha

 

[DalalErMaNodi]

Does anyone else love Dal when its cooked like this?

Btw this Channel Spice Bangla has amazing videos with clear & concise recipes coupled with great videography and editing. Newer videos are asmr typish too.

 

[Bilal9]

This is patishapta pitha.

View attachment 640271
​

Your picture was of a Narikel Puli Pitha.

You're right again Dada. Making Pitha is quite labor intensive. But womenfolk shy away from it nowadays. I may have to take the bull by the horn myself.

These two ingredients are available in grocer's freezers in US thankfully, for Narikel Puli pitha. American recipes such as pie crust and desserts also call for these ingredients.

puff pastry dough (refrigerated) to make skin

Shredded Coconut (refrigerated) for the puli pitha fillings

 

[itsanufy]

@Joe Shearer dada and @DalalErMaNodi I think this may be called Patishapta Pitha. Check with womenfolk in your family, they will know. The filling is sometimes payesh if the outer cover is like roti. But I have seen smaller wraps whose outer covering is fried and inner filling is coconut-sugar filling. Quite a treat - these things.

I think this was an influence to/from another food item in Spain (maybe because of their spice trade with us in the 1500's to 1800's). Maybe they gave it to us, or we gave it to them. The Spanish have this dessert called Empanadas, which my Colombian friends feed me all the time.

Colombian Empanadas come with all kinds of fruit and sugary fillings, the most common is Guava and Cream cheese. They can be baked/fried - or not, as well.

Top one is known as Satpuri in Midnapore area having coconut filling. Contrary to @Joe Shearer thinking I believe Pitha is more a favourite in bengalis West of Hoogly than East. I have seen my relatives in Bankura and both Midnapore having at pitha dinner in winter.
Similar tradition is there in bordering and coastal districts of Orissa.
Even Lord Jagannath eats varieties of pitha in his menu.
A trivia, menu, ingredients and cooking process of Lord Jagannath temple has not changed for last 600-800 years. No potato, chili, tomatoes to name a few in his food.