The land of Behula, Chapainawabganj, a district of Rajshahi, was once upon a time a vacation destination for the nawabs of Murshidabad and Daudpur Mouja before the British came to India. It is unique from other districts in its ethnicity, dialect, and its organic cuisine.
The streams of the mighty Ganges regularly flood the shores of this riverine land, giving a distinctive character to the land and its people. The fertile land with the hottest of summers and the coldest of winters gave birth to the mouth watering "Kalai Ruti," a thick flat bread made of lentil flour, which is good for breakfast, lunch, or dinner on a busy day.
Cooking calling for skill and excellence
Kalai Ruti is traditionally made in a special earthen pan and the entire process, from kneading to rolling, needs the skillful hands of a chef to ensure its full potential.
The flat bread is at its best when served with savoury Bhhartas (Mashed Vegetable Preparations) like mashed aubergine, and Chutneys (Mashed Spice Preparations) made from chilli and onions. But always, the ingredient that makes the dish more appetizing is the homemade mustard oil drizzle
The most distinctive feature of the bread is that it will keep for 3 or 4 days. It will not dry out, and it won’t spoil.
Gaining Popularity
It is a century old traditional staple delicacy of Chapainawabganj gaining popularity. Even the United States (US) Ambassador to Bangladesh, Earl Robert Miller, visited Rajshahi and was delighted by the tasty treat.
Restaurants around Zero point, Shahebbazar, Uposhohor, Binodpur, Railgate, Ranibazar, Mianpara, and Lakhshmipur have added Kalairuti to their menus, and people of all ages try the dish with chutneys, bhhartas, and spicy meat dishes of duck, beef, or chicken.
Shafiul Islam, a medical student of Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, who came to Rajshahi just to taste the dish, said the moist and juicy texture of the bread and the spicy bhhartas makes him come back to the restaurant every time he is in town.
Boosting the Economy
People of this largely agricultural region are mostly dependent on seasonal crops, but the regular river erosion, floods, joblessness and inflation, leave the poor ever poorer.
But with the recent popularity of Kalairuti, people in Chapainawabganj who once sold the bread as street food, are now employed in famous restaurants. Now the economy of both Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi are getting a much needed boost from this local delicacy.