16 Oct 2024
Do you know there are over 250,000 Bangladeshi immigrants in the UK who send money to Bangladesh from UK to support their families and view food as so much more than a source of nutrition—it represents home, cultural identity, and heritage. This is the symphony of flavors present in Bangladeshi kitchens, from the warmth of a perfect spicy Bhuna to the family home-cooked pitha. But getting the familiar tastes in a new country is not easy.
This blog will assist the reader in locating Bangladeshi dishes throughout the UK to successfully find authentic ingredients and restaurants as well as groceries. From a student studying in a different country, a breadwinner providing for the family to an expatriate, who wants to take a trip down memory lane biting into familiar food; there is a place for you here.
For the Bangladeshi community in the UK, food is more than just sustenance; it’s a heartfelt connection to home and a means of preserving cultural heritage. Whether you’re craving the spices of home-cooked meals or seeking the comfort of familiar flavors, navigating the landscape of Bangladeshi grocery stores, restaurants, and online shopping options can make all the difference. From finding authentic ingredients to enjoying traditional dishes at local eateries, this guide will help you explore the best ways to indulge in Bangladeshi cuisine while managing your finances effectively. Plus, with ACE Money Transfer, you can easily support your family back in Bangladesh while enjoying the rich culinary tapestry that the UK has to offer!
Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and other supermarkets in the UK have also realized the increasing interest in South Asian food and have taken stock of most of the products used in Bangladeshi food. You will be surprised to find most of the basics you require like basmati rice, red lentils, and spices like turmeric, cumin, and coriander among others. For those seeking the real thing there are sometimes aisles labeled ethnic foods where things like mustard oil, tamarind paste, or even ready to eat naan may be found. Using these ingredients, you may cook delicious dishes that taste the same as those you have at home; thus you can feel comfort in an unfamiliar country.
If you want more specific products; such as dried fish, pithas, hilsa fish, then there are specialized Bangladeshi grocery stores that can save you money to help you send money to Bangladesh present in the areas with a high concentration of Bangladeshi people. London’s Brick Lane also has a myriad of Bengali products ranging from spices to some very exotic sweets. Birmingham and Manchester also have increasing numbers of South Asian food shops where it is possible to get products that the supermarket chains do not stock.
If there is an occasional desire to eat out and get a complete and genuine Bangladeshi plate, then there are various Bangladeshi restaurants available in the UK’s major cities. Brick Lane in London is famously known as the “Curry Capital” of the United Kingdom and has numerous Bangladeshi establishments having specialties such as Ilish Bhapa, Bhuna Khichuri, and Chingri Malai Curry. Although some cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds also have some less popular restaurants where the chefs have no hesitation in presenting authentic Bangladeshi dishes like the _hazario_ fish and specialty dishes from Dhaka.
Not only do these restaurants create an environment to provide the same taste as we get at our homes but also bring the same ambiance that a Bangladeshi restaurant provides. But going out to these restaurants is an even better way of revisiting the roots and at the same time helping your fellow Bangladeshis employ themselves.
What one didn’t imagine is that it can be a piece of cake to locate Bangladeshi restaurants even if it’s situated in a rather remote area. Some useful apps that can be used are Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and Zomato, which will inform you about where it is possible to find the real Bangladeshi cuisines in the selected area, and you can easily save your transportation cost. Thus, you can easily send money to Bangladesh online in the maximum way.
You can also follow expat associations on Facebook or other social media in which people recommend places they like. But do not despair if you happen to live in a provincial town – Bangladeshi chains are growing in the United Kingdom, which means more opportunities to try real Bangladeshi food wherever you are.
Regardless of how much you love to cook your meals at home, some ingredients cannot be readily accessed in your country’s local supermarkets. Not a problem because you can shop online. Many online stores are available that provide all Bangladeshi essential items such as fresh spices, frozen fish, etc., named Spices of India, Red Rickshaw, Quality Foods Online, etc.
This comes in handy, especially for students or employees who live in remote areas and can rarely afford to visit specialized grocery stores. Technology has now enabled people to cook traditional Bangladeshi dishes for their families because these shopping sites will source products that are not found in any supermarket back in Bangladesh.
There is another interesting choice waiting for you, which is Bangladeshi food subscription box. These services bring what you want right to your doorstep, be it a pack of ingredients that will await your direction or delicious homemade meals that will help you avoid missing a meal made from traditional meals.
Enjoy real food keep your finances in check and even receive money from family back in Bangladesh using ACE Money Transfer for making a money transfer to Bangladesh.
However, the UK reader is likely to get familiar with most of the authentic ingredients, although some of them might be relatively rare. In these cases, learning to substitute other local ingredients can help to keep the feel of being at home. For instance, if hilsa fish cannot be found, some recommendable substitutes are salmon or mackerel for a similar taste, unlike the Ilish bhapa. Likewise, if one tries exotic local herbs and spices in a pinch, it is really easy to get a good approximation of traditional recipes, if cooked in the right manner.
In the case you are not sure how to create the comfort food feeling using local products then there are numerous tutorials online. There are a plethora of blogs, YouTube channels, Facebook groups where expatriate Bangladeshis share their experience on what and how to cook typical Bangladeshi dishes. Some even give precise guidelines on how to search for and apply UK-based ingredients to cook your meals.
Food is beyond mere nourishment for the Bangladeshis; it is the link between generations, kinship, and country and the global community. The traditional Bengali meals like panta bhat or shorshe ilish take one back to their family and celebrations making him nostalgic in an alien country. When they share these meals or introduce them to friends they would have missed from the UK, this assists in maintaining the culture as some expats may sometimes feel lonely.
To the overseas Bangladeshi community in the UK, authenticity in their food is not just about eating but also about keeping the soul alive and a way to save more for money transfer to Bangladesh from UK. When it comes to groceries, restaurants, or even online groceries there are several options through which one can get Bengali foods in the UK home. While you savor these notable conveniences do not forget that you also have to keep your pocket in check as well.
An easy way to simplify life? ACE Money Transfer —an efficient and cheap service for money transfer from the UK to Bangladesh. Join now and make your transfers as smooth as possible, all while keeping your connection to your culture and helping your kin back home!
It is possible to get Bangladeshi ingredients at major supermarkets like Tesco and Asda and any other (regional) store such as the ones at Brick Lane, Birmingham, and Manchester.
The best Bangladeshi restaurants include restaurants located in Brick Lane in London, Birmingham, and.Manchester, with menus that include foods such as Bhuna Khichuri and Ilish Bhapa.
Yes, there are online stores such as Spices of India and Red Rickshaw that sell Bangladeshi groceries in the UK.
Also you may replace hilsa fish with local fish such as salmon and instead of spices use similar kinds to prepare real Bangladeshi taste.
Some of the well-known online shops consist of Spices of India, Red Rickshaw, and Quality Foods Online.
