Contrary to an iconic line of a very popular TV series, WINTER IS GONE, and with it, gone are the days of a season full of fresh, succulent green produce.

There is a common saying that you cannot be a Bangladeshi without the spices, herbs and masalas! Extensively used in Southeast Asian cooking, a deshi meal is never complete without the use of spices. Masalas have been used in this region to flavour food for eons.

For pickled mustard seeds, combine the mustard seeds, water, vinegar, sugar, and salt in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat.

Throw away all your prior notions of vegetables being dietary and guilt-free. Because, your humble everyday vegetables can be turned into ultimate guilty pleasures, giving meat a run for its money!

When you are tired of all the meat, grease and spices, come back to your old favourite, come back to the humble source of protein and minerals, come back to fish!

Jackfruit may have made it to the national list as THE fruit but it's the mango that won the hearts of the Bangladeshis in large number.

Times have changed and so have the ways of making food, so maybe it's time to go a step further and bring about a global twist to the main accompaniment to the Shab-e-Barat delicacies - the humble "ruti" so to speak.