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Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice)

Name: Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice)
Total time: 725 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 300 g Rice, cooked, leftover; 1 pc Onion, finely chopped, raw; 2 pc Green chilli, chopped; 1 tbsp Mustard oil; to taste Salt; 2 pc Fish, fried, for serving

725 min Easy 2 servings

Serves 2 · Total 725 min · Prep 5 min · Cook 600 min

Updated on 28 October 2026

Photo: Tahmid Munaz from Dhaka, Bangladesh / CC BY-SA 4.0

Leftover cooked rice soaked overnight in water until it turns slightly sour and cool, eaten the next morning with a green chilli, raw onion, mustard oil and a piece of fried fish or hilsa. It is the breakfast of Bengali farmers and the centrepiece of Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year).

Quick answer: 725 min in total · serves 2 · main ingredients: Rice, Onion, Green chilli, Mustard oil · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

300 g 1.5 cup Rice, cooked, leftover
1 pc 1 pc Onion, finely chopped, raw
2 pc 2 pc Green chilli, chopped
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Mustard oil
to taste to taste Salt
2 pc 2 pc Fish, fried, for serving (Optional)

Steps

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Put the leftover cooked rice in a bowl and pour over enough room-temperature water to fully submerge it.
Cover the bowl and leave it at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours (6 to 8 hours in hot weather) to ferment lightly; do not leave it longer than a day.
⏱ Overnight fermenting · 600 min
The next morning, drain off a little of the water if it looks too thin, keeping the rice slightly wet.
Mix in the chopped onion and green chilli.
Add the salt and mustard oil, and mix well.
Serve cold, with a piece of fried fish and extra green chilli on the side.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice) take?

725 minutes in total: about 5 minutes of prep and 600 minutes of cooking.

Is Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice) hard to make?

Degchi rates it easy. The method has 6 steps, and 1 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice) serve?

This recipe serves 2. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice) halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice)?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: salt. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: onion, green chilli. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: rice, mustard oil.

Any tips for making Panta Bhat (Fermented Rice)?

Only ferment rice that has no oil or spice already mixed in, and always use clean water so it stays safe to eat. Timing: 8-12 hours at room temperature is enough in most weather; in a hot kitchen it can turn too sour sooner, so check it. Good panta smells pleasantly sour. If it smells foul, fizzes, or shows mould or odd colour, throw it away.