Today I'm going to present a traditional Bengali dish called Sorshe Ilish (Hilsa with Mustard sauce). We Bengalis from both India and Bangladesh have a special affinity toward fish which forms a integral part of our diet. This Hilsa fish is mostly found in the Delta region of the Bay Of Bengal, where the river Ganges merges with the sea. As per taste, supposed to be the tastiest fish in this world. There are several methods of cooking this fish, however the most effective and tasty preparation is through cooking it with mustard oil. This is the key point as using any other oil would not bring out the awesome taste as compared to mustard oil. The pictures are below for you to judge and comment. Happy cooking !!!
Ingredients:
4-5 pieces of Hilsa Fish / Ilish Mach
2 tbsp Mustard powder
1 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Nigella seeds
1 tsp Red chilly powder
5-6 Green chillies
4 tbsp Mustard oil
Salt as per your taste
1 1/2 cups of Water
Method:
Rub the fish pieces with some salt and a pinch of turmeric powder and keep aside for 1/2 hour. Heat mustard oil in a cast iron wok and on smoking point gently slide the fish pieces into the oil. Lightly fry it from both the sides and keep aside.
If you are using mustard powder (I've used mustard powder in my case) soak 2 tbsp of mustard powder in lukewarm water along with a pinch of salt and green chilly for 10-15 minutes.
If you are using mustard seeds, then soak this in 2 tbsp of lukewarm water with green chilly and a pinch of salt for 10-15 minutes. Then grind till you get a smooth paste, strain the liquid from the residues and keep the mustard liquid aside for later use.
Heat the remaining oil and when it starts smoking and add nigella seeds. Add slit green chillies, red chilly powder, turmeric powder and pour in the already prepared paste. Add water and bring it to boil. Gently slide the fried fishes and adjust the salt as per taste. Cover with lid and let it cook on low flame for 10 minutes or until you get the desired consistency of the gravy. Garnish with slit green chilly and 1 tsp of mustard oil for that extra pungent flavor. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Ankita of Eat Hearty- Stay Healthy has shared Best Blogger, You Are The Best Blogger Award, Yummy Recipes, Stylish blogger, One Lovely Blog, Kreative Blogger and Lovely Blog awards with me. Since I posted the same set of awards in my last post only so kindly excuse me for not repeating the same exercise again. Thanks a lot Ankita for the wonderful gesture of passing me these awards.
Looks so so good!!!! Loved this authentic dish..!!Tempting clicks :)
ReplyDeletePrathima Rao
Prats Corner
this fish looks like kingfish............nd the dish looks mouth watering.............
ReplyDeletenice recipe bookmarked looks yummy
ReplyDeleteAlways thought of making this....have seen in tv shows and food blogs...but never tried it...looks delectable.....carving for some right now....yeh toh bodha he yum che Deepa....:-)
ReplyDeletelooks lovely! would love to try it! Is there any other name for the Hilsa ? I wonder if I can find it here in Bangalore.
ReplyDeleteMaking fish in mustard oil is simply irresistible...Looks so good and tempting..
ReplyDeletewow!!! yummy fish mustard gravy, awesome clicks, sounds yum!! inviting pictures
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely recipe, just using simple ingredients! Looks absolutely delicious & tempting! Congrats on your well deserved awards!
ReplyDeleteDelicious hilsa recipe..
ReplyDeletemouthwatering n delicious recipe..
ReplyDeleteDrooling at the sight of this yummy dish!
ReplyDeleteWow! Love the fish coated in the gravy! Looks tempting!
ReplyDeleteDear Deepa
ReplyDeleteLet me congratulate you for presenting this traditional dish with great photographs and with minute details.
I am going to try your way step by step..
let me see what all I have missed
have a nice week
Looks so rich and tasty... Would be great to have with rice.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely delicious...very tempting.
ReplyDeleteSimply drooling here, would love to have with some rice,yumm!
ReplyDeleteu r making me to drool on ur fish.love the pictures.
ReplyDeleteMakes me drool..yummy yummy fish curry.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures.And fish curry look so delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love fish in any form..Delicious curry!! Perfect with rice!
ReplyDeleteThis fish curry looks awesome Deepa, tempting for veggie like me.
ReplyDeleteLooks so good
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of nigella seeds- what do they taste like?
ReplyDeleteYum! I love this fish preparation.Its so light and perfect for summer months.
ReplyDeletelooks so delish!!!
ReplyDeleteammaandbaby.blogspot.com/
Deepa,
ReplyDeleteThe pics have come out awesome. And I can imagine the taste of the dish. A bowl of steamed rice and this dish makes for a heavenly meal and you make me badly crave for it girl!!! Drooool...
Regards,
Seema
amchi-bong-konnexion.blogspot.com
seemabbas.blogspot.com
Sorse Illish dekhte khub sundar hoyechhe. kheteo khub sudar hoyechhe mone hochhe.
ReplyDeleteSo very yummy Deepa....All time favourite, HILSAAAA....:)
ReplyDeleteLooks good..
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious. I have never cooked with mustard oil but would love to try it:)
ReplyDeleteReally darun dekhte hoyeche, Deepa, with thick gravy, want to grab the plate right now
ReplyDeleteHi Deepa,
ReplyDeletePls collect an award from my blog.
Wow Deepa! Looks just perfect!
ReplyDeleteLoved mustard fish...have tasted them several times, but never tried them myself. With this step by step instructions..am gonna try them real soon. Lovely pictures...tempting.
ReplyDeleteLooks very tempting....nice clicks...
ReplyDeleteDarun dekhte hoyeche.. dekhei khete ichha korche.. Ei weekend e banatei hochhe.. Thanks Deepa !!
ReplyDeleteBhalo Khabo
I have seen this many food blogs...got to try it sometimes..Looks wonderfully delicious
ReplyDeleteWow what a classic. Being a veggie I make this with eggplant but hubby and I totally enjoy it with just some white rice.
ReplyDeleteUS Masala
Too yummy here Deeps! Am drooling and you are the cause for that ;)
ReplyDeletePass me some please...:)
Thank you friends for your feedback
ReplyDeleteC u
Visiting your blog is like a wonderful culinary adventure. Each time I'm here I get to see and learn about a something new :)) Super fish curry!
ReplyDeleteu making me miss home :( I don't get Ilish anywhere out here .. waiting for my India trip .. told Ma that I want ilish everyday ..!!!
ReplyDeleteThanx deepa for linking this to hilsa festival...this yr am really missing it, this prep of yours is really terrific..love...love it I do it the same way..have brought some sunrise mustard pdr with me..nice substitute for shorshe bata
ReplyDeleteilish shorshe....uff daruun preparation....love it completely though it takes time to eat ilish...but I simply love it.....your recipe is making me hungry now....will look for some ilish this weekend...thanks for commenting deepa....nice blog...following you :)
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