Bengali cuisine is the culinary style of Bengal, a region encompassing Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, as well as the Barak Valley in Assam. The cuisine is known for its varied use of flavours including mustard oil, as well as its desserts. There is a strong emphasis on rice as a staple, with fish traditionally the most common protein. Freshwater fish are preferred to seafish, although barramundi, known as bhetki, is also common. Although less popular than fish, Bengalis have eaten a variety of meats since pre-colonial times, ranging from pigs and deer to hedgehogs and turtles. In more recent times, lentils have begun to form a significant part of the diet. This photograph shows a serving of pabda jhaal, a type of Bengali fish curry.Photograph credit: Nilanjan Sasmal