What a wonderful world!

Rice- The grain has many faces

Had a very tasty breakfast today - Puffed rice with milk. I've increased milk intake recently.

Rice is one of the main foods for Bengalis. Boiled rice, called Bhat, in our language is an all time favorite for many. Some people even eat bhat three times a day. I don't like this boiled form, though. This moist food makes me drowsy. Moreover, I am told not to eat this much. I'm an obidient patient, so must follow doctor's orders.

For Bengalis, Lunch and Dinner means boiled rice. I always eat a very small amount of bhat, but make sure that veggies and fishes are abundant in my plate.

I do like the puffed form, it is known as Muri in Bangladesh. It can be turned into many delicious dishes, by mixing with oil, pulses, coconut, milk, molasses...whatever one likes.

Then comes the flaked form, Chira. This is a very good medicine for dehydration, ulcer, dysentry or any other stomach related diseases. Just mix chira with a bit of water, add sugar or molases, and chew!

The most common dish of Chira in urban areas is when it is mixed with Yoghurt. Some people like to eat with banana too. Some also like fried Chira.

In Rural areas, just plain wet chira with molases is considered healthy. I think this is the most calm face of rice, it only has benefits, no side effects. But the other forms can make one obess.

Last but not the least, comes the popped face of rice, Khoi. This is quite popular among elderly people, it is mainly eaten with milk and molases.

During winter, Bangladesh floats in a river of rice cakes. Cake festivals are arranged in many places. There are special dices for different types of cake made with rice flour. Among these, Bhapa pitha and Chitai pitha are two of the most popular cakes. By the way, pitha means cake in Bangla.

If rice is to be used for bhat, then the paddy has to be boiled before being taken to the rice mill. All other faces of rice emerge out of rice from raw paddy. The raw paddy rice is called Atop chal.

Chal is rice in Bangla. Chal also means roof, for tin shaded houses.