Editing West Bengal (section)

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Cuisine of West Bengal}}
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| image1=Pitha for Wedding- Pakan, Patishapta, Bharandash.jpg
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| image2=Shorshe Ilish.jpg
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| footer =Assorted food eaten in West Bengal: ''Patisapta'', a kind of [[pitha]]; shorshe [[ilish]] (hilsha with mustard sauce) and [[rasgulla]]s in sugar syrup
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Rice and fish are traditional favourite foods, leading to a saying in Bengali, "''machhe bhate bangali''", that translates as "fish and rice make a Bengali".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://govdocs.aquake.org/cgi/reprint/2003/1201/12010300.pdf |title=Development of freshwater fish farming and poverty alleviation: A case study from Bangladesh |access-date = 22 October 2006 |author=Gertjan de Graaf, Abdul Latif |publisher=Aqua KE Government |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061101103614/http://govdocs.aquake.org/cgi/reprint/2003/1201/12010300.pdf |archive-date = 1 November 2006}}</ref> Bengal's vast repertoire of fish-based dishes includes [[hilsa]] preparations, a favourite among Bengalis. There are numerous ways of cooking fish depending on its texture, size, fat content and bones.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/living/story/19970915-bengalis-relish-hilsa-fish-as-imports-of-the-bangladeshi-delicacy-grow-830545-1997-09-15 |title=Bengalis relish hilsa fish as imports of the Bangladeshi delicacy grow |access-date = 10 December 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180126080959/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/living/story/19970915-bengalis-relish-hilsa-fish-as-imports-of-the-bangladeshi-delicacy-grow-830545-1997-09-15 |archive-date = 26 January 2018 |url-status = live}}</ref> Most of the people also consume eggs, chicken, mutton, and shrimp. ''[[Panta bhat]]'' (rice soaked overnight in water) with onion and green chili is a traditional dish consumed in rural areas.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1110804/jsp/northeast/story_14328967.jsp |title=Ferment rice for a healthy morsel |website=www.telegraphindia.com |access-date = 13 December 2017 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170804113510/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1110804/jsp/northeast/story_14328967.jsp |archive-date = 4 August 2017}}</ref> Common spices found in a Bengali kitchen include [[cumin]], ajmoda (radhuni), [[bay leaf]], [[Mustard seed|mustard]], [[ginger]], [[Chili pepper|green chillies]] and [[turmeric]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgU8AgAACAAJ |title=Bengali Cooking: Seasons and Festivals |last=Banerji |first=Chitrita |publisher=[[Serif (publisher)|Serif]] |isbn=978-1-897959-50-3 |language=en |date=December 2006 |access-date=12 August 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001150/https://books.google.com/books?id=tgU8AgAACAAJ |url-status=live}}</ref> Sweets occupy an important place in the diet of Bengalis and at their social ceremonies. Bengalis make distinctive [[confectionery|sweetmeats]] from milk products, including ''[[Rasgulla|Rôshogolla]]'', ''Chômchôm'', ''Kalojam'' and several kinds of ''[[Sandesh (confectionery)|sondesh]]''. [[Pitha]], a kind of sweet cake, bread, or dim sum, are specialties of the winter season. Sweets such as ''narkol-naru'', ''til-naru'', ''moa'' and ''payesh'' are prepared during festivals such as [[Lakshmi Puja|Lakshmi puja]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bengalcuisine.in/sweets |title=Sweet Items {{!}} Bengal Cuisine|website=bengalcuisine.in|language=en|access-date=13 December 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213142211/http://bengalcuisine.in/sweets|archive-date=13 December 2017}}</ref> Popular [[street food]]s include Aloor Chop, [[Beguni]], [[Kati roll]], [[biryani]], and [[phuchka]].<ref>{{cite news |first=S |last=Saha |title=Resurrected, the kathi roll – Face-off resolved, Nizam's set to open with food court |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060118/asp/calcutta/story_5733258.asp |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]] |date=18 January 2006 |access-date = 26 October 2006 |location=Calcutta, India |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060228160826/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060118/asp/calcutta/story_5733258.asp |archive-date = 28 February 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bangalinet.com/mobile_foodstalls.htm |title=Mobile food stalls |access-date = 26 October 2006 |publisher=Bangalinet.com |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061021122336/http://bangalinet.com/mobile_foodstalls.htm |archive-date = 21 October 2006}}</ref>