Bengali Panta Bhat Is Packed With Health Benefits!
Image Credit: Bengali panta bhaat, Insomniac Cook

Panta bhat with an assortment of bhaja-bhuji (fried things), fritters, bhaate (mashed vegetables), and achaar has been a summertime staple in our household, as it is in other Bengali homes. As much as I appreciated the calming effect, I also felt the sleepy spell it cast. This fermented rice dish is popular in the summer in a few other eastern and northeastern Indian states under distinct names. But if there's one thing I can guarantee, it's that throughout the warmer months of the year, panta bhat is the most beloved comfort food in any Bengali home. Amazingly, this dish, which consists primarily of rice and water, was voted MasterChef 2021's best. Even in Grand Finale of MasterChef Australia, Kishwar, a contestant prepared this dish and presented with alu bhorta and fried fish. Panta bhaat is loved by many because of the numerous health benefits it offers.

Cooling effect

Panta bhat, with its cooling characteristics, is ideal for the warmer months. The combination of rice, water, and, in some instances, curd helps to cool the body and stave off the effects of summer's scorching temperatures. As a bonus, it also soothes acid reflux and stomach ulcers, making it the ideal meal for a hot afternoon.

Abundant in probiotics

For panta bhaat, the rice is supposed to soak in water for a whole night. Because of the overnight soaking, a mild fermentation takes place. In this way, the probiotics in panta bhaat are preserved, making it a beneficial food for gut health. Nonetheless, some people mistakenly believe eating rice will cause them to gain weight or feel sluggish. Those who need to be physically active should take the rice. Yet, drinking only half a litre of panta bhaat's water is enough for other people to get the benefits.

Minimal in calories

Boosting your body's oxygen supply with regular servings of panta bhat is possible due to the dish's high iron content. The carbs in the rice are broken down by fermenting microorganisms while it soaks in water overnight, making the food very easy to digest. With no cholesterol and few calories, this Bong treat is ideal for anyone trying to slim down.

Panta bhaat with alu bhaate and chutney, Image Source: ForkTales@Facebook

Improves gut health

Some research has been done on its health benefits. The water that comes from fermented rice has also been discovered to have immune-boosting properties. In addition, the short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in panta bhaat are beneficial to your intestinal health. Butter and yoghurt are only two examples of the many foods that contain SCFA, but it's important to remember that you shouldn't overeat them due to their high-fat content. But panta bhaat's water is not like that at all. This food has no dietary restrictions, and it provides a rapid and substantial boost to energy levels.

A low-cost way to improve your health

The practice of panta bhaat is both beneficial to one's health and an excellent means of reducing food waste. It has long been considered 'poor man's cuisine. Once a shining beacon, it had fallen on hard times due to modernization. But now the spotlight is being shone on this time-honoured dish.

This summer do include this tradtional Bengali fermented rice dish in your diet and enjoy the health benefits of panta bhaat.