Hilsa or Ilish is the most popular fish to Bengalis . In this recipe Illish fish is prepared with mustard seeds paste and then steamed. Ilish can be cooked in very little oil since the fish itself is very oily. This dish is very easy yet very delicious.
Ingredients for Bhappa Illish Recipe
- Hilsa fish – 1 kg (cut into pieces)
- Mustard seeds – 2 tbsp
- Garlic – 10-12 flakes
- Green chi8llies – 4 (slit)
- Turmeric powder – 2 tsp
- Mustard oil – 50 ml
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt to taste
- Water – as per requirement
Procedure For Preparing Bhappa Illish
Soak the mustard seeds in a little water for 10 minutes. Grind the mustard seeds, garlic, green chilies to a fine paste, adding water in between as per requirement.
Mix lime juice, turmeric powder,salt and mustard oil to this paste and marinate the fish pieces with the paste for about 30 minutes.
Steam the fish in a closed lid container for about 10- 15 minutes and serve hot with rice.
Note: In order to steam the fish make sure that all the fish pieces are kept in a line without the pieces overlapping each other . You can take a large container which is half filled with water and then place the closed lid container with the fish in a way that fits the larger vessel and then steam.