Ask any Bengali about his/her favourite fish, Ilish (Hilsa) will be a common preference. I am no different! I love freshwater fishes and ilish tops the list.
Here is my mother’s quick Ilish Bhapa(steamed) recipe. You would probably just have to buy the fish; other ingredients are generally available in most kitchens. I would also like to thank Maa for this and shamelessly admit that I have no contribution to it apart from relishing it.
Ingredients-
Ilish (Hilsa) Fish-cut into pieces
Green Chillies
Yellow Mustard seeds- 1 tablespoon
Salt- To taste
Turmeric Powder
Mustard Oil
First of all, take a tablespoon of yellow mustard seeds and 5-6 green chillies together, add little water and grind it to make a paste. My mother uses mortar pestle, you can do it in your mixer grinder as well.
Now, take the fish pieces and marinate it with the chilli-mustard paste, salt, mustard oil and some turmeric powder. Put the pieces in a separate steel bowl or container (heat resistant) which should have a lid. Put a little water in the bowl where you marinated the fish and pour the leftover spice-mix to the steel bowl.
Close the lid of the bowl where you have put in the fish pieces tightly. Now, take a deep pan and add water, about an inch for 6 and half inch-deep pan, and place the bowl with the fish mix in it. Put some weight on the lid of the bowl and then cover the pan and cook it on high heat for first 10 minutes and then on medium heat for next 25 minutes.
Turn off the heat and take out the bowl carefully. Let it cool for some time and then remove the lid.
Enjoy it with a plate of steamed rice!
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