BHAAPA ILISH (STEAMED HILSA)

It's a most popular delicious bengali fish recipe.A most useful combination of spices which gives it an exclusive flavor. This recipe made by my mom.

BHAAPA ILISH

INGREDIENTS:

Hilsa fish - 1 kg cut cross- sectionally

Onion Seeds - 1 tsp

Cumin Seeds - 4 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Salt - As per taste

Green Chilies - 6-8 slit

Mustard Oil - 1 tbsp

Banana Leaf - 1 or 2 depending on size (optional)

HOW TO COOK:

• Clean, wash and dry the fish. 
• Apply 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp  turmeric powder and keep aside for 10 minutes. 
• Wash the whole masala .Grind all to a fine paste along with 1/2 tsp salt and 2 green chillies.
• Apply this paste to the fish ,making sure all the pieces are well coated, and let it marinate for 30 minutes. 
• Put the fish in a tightly lidded container. 
• Pour 2 tsp mustard oil and 2-3 green chillies. 
• Steam in a steamer/ large pan of boiling water for 20 - 25minutes. 
• Check if the fish cooked. 
• If required , steam for few minutes more. 
• After cooking transfer the fish to a serving plate using a flat spoon, taking care not to break them.  
• Garnish with the remaining mustard oil and green chillies and serve hot with plain rice.

TIPS:

     If you want you cook this recipe with banana leaf. Take 1 marinated fish and fold it with banana leaf.Then steam it as the same way. If you cook this recipe in this way you will get a different flavor.