Lesser-Known

Mutton

Dishes Of Durga Puja

Quick Summary

For every Bengali, Durga Puja is more than just dhak beats, dazzling pandals, and artful saree tucks – it’s also about food that connects generations and strangers. While kosha mangsho might get all the love on Instagram reels, Bengal’s kitchens are brimming with mutton masterpieces steeped in history that deserve their moment in the spotlight.

Deep Dive

Mutton is the heart and soul of Bengali meat-based dishes, from the Sunday staple ‘mangsho bhaat’ lunches to grand Durga Puja feasts. While iconic dishes like kosha mangsho and mangshor jhol have earned their rightful fame, Bengal’s culinary landscape is rich with lesser-known mutton treasures that marry family kitchens and regional flavors. As the season of Durga Puja approaches and kitchens begin to stir with the aroma of festive preparations, it’s the perfect time to explore these hidden gems of Bengali cuisine.

Mangshor Ghoogni

Ghoogni is a streetside classic that is present on every street corner in Bengal. Come festive season, you will also find mutton or mangshor ghoogni, also called pathar or kashir (both are kinds of goat) ghugni. It uses tender minced mutton with kabuli chola (chickpeas), instead of the usual matar (field peas), which goes well with the meaty flavour of the mutton keema. The dish features a thick, spicy gravy, which makes for a hearty and flavorful dish, often served to guests on Bijoya Dashami. Like the usual ghoogni, it’s often garnished with fresh onions, green chillies, and lemon juice, perfect for enjoying with family and friends during Durga Puja.

Mutton Rezala

A Mughlai dish native to Kolkata and its surrounding regions, mutton rezala might not be as popular as chicken rezala, but it has been assimilated into Bengali festive cuisine, gracing many restaurant menus. Mutton is simmered in a mild white gravy of yoghurt, cashew paste, poppy seed paste, and spices like cardamom and mace. The curry is silky and barely spicy, which makes it stand in contrast to richer red curries that are associated with mutton preparations in the region.

Gota Moshlar Mangsho

Literally meaning ‘mutton with whole spices’, this dish thrives on the aromatic weight of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, and dried chillies, used whole rather than ground. The slow‑cooking technique infuses the meat with complex layers of fragrance, balanced by the tanginess of the creamy hung curd. Traditionally paired with fragrant Basanti pulao or plain ghee‑bhat, this soul‑warming curry is ideal for a refined Bhog table during Durga Puja.

Mangsho Doodh Korma

A rare mutton curry, mangshor doodh korma, is a rich and aromatic Bengali mutton dish, perfect for special occasions like Durga Puja. It’s a lighter but still indulgent dish that stands out for its delicate richness. The hallmark of this dish is its mildly spiced, creamy white gravy that uses milk or cream to balance the deeper meat flavours. It's refined, festive, and traditionally enjoyed with rice or luchi. Unlike the red-hot mutton curries, this dish leans into subtlety, using Bengal’s favourite posto or poppy seeds in it, showcasing how Bengal’s culinary heritage includes restraint and finesse.

Mutton Dak Bungalow

With roots in colonial times, dating back to the 19th century, this mutton curry gained fame in government rest houses – the dak bungalows – where cooks prepared hearty fare for the travelling British officials. The recipe features marinated mutton slow‑cooked with potatoes and boiled eggs in a thick, aromatic gravy. Typically cooked with ground whole spices, mustard oil, onions, tomatoes, and sometimes curd, the resulting dish is robust, comforting, and steeped in nostalgia. It’s best eaten with rice, and the flavors travel just as well in its chicken version.

Goalondo Mutton Curry

Another dish from Bengal’s colonial past, this dish traditionally featured chicken, but mutton options are also present in the state. It emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when steamers traversed Bengal’s vast river networks – especially from Goalondo Ghat to Narayanganj. It was prepared aboard the boats by Muslim boatmen (khalasis) as a one-pot dish using minimal ingredients – mustard oil, garlic, onion, green chillies, turmeric, and sometimes dried red chillies, producing a fiery, thin red gravy.

Joggibarir Mangsho

If you’ve had the chance to attend a Bengali wedding, chances are you might’ve had joggibarir mangsho, also known as biyebarir (wedding) mangsho. It’s a traditional Bengali mutton curry renowned for its deep flavours and perfect for festivities. You will notice large mutton chunks, which are marinated in a spicy hung curd and mustard oil mix. It’s usually cooked how the traditional Bengali-style mutton curry is made with whole spices, lots of onions, ginger-garlic paste, and the marinated mutton. 

Mutton Reigns As Festive Favourite

Mutton is the heart and soul of Bengali meat-based dishes, from Sunday mangsho-bhaat rituals to the opulent Puja feasts. Bengal’s culinary landscape brims with unsung mutton preparations – each rich in flavour, culture, and history. Try these festive gems for your next Durga Puja feast for a lip-smacking affair that will have your guests raving, long after the gathering.