Sorse Bhapa ILISH (Steamed Hilsa in mustard gravy)

This is the very popular and common recipe of Bangladesh and I have learnt this recipe from my mother. You can prepare verities of recipes with Hilsha fish. Out of the all, I love this particular recipe as it is unique in taste, flavor and colour, but at the same time it is very easy to prepare or in other word it is an effortless cooking as it requires very less ingredient compare to other fish preparations. So, now I’m sharing this recipe with you all which is called “ Steamed Hilsa in Mustard Gravy” or “Sorse Bhapa ILISH”.

SORSE BHAPA ILISH

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

Hilsha (ILISH) fish - 10 pcs (without head & tail)

White Mustard – 1 tbsp
Black Mustard - 2 tbsp

Scraped coconut – 1/2 cup

Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Green chili – 5 to 6, or as per taste

Mustard oil - 4 tablespoons

Salt – as per taste

Preparation:

Marinate the fish pieces with salt & turmeric for 30 minutes and keep aside.

Make a smooth paste of mustard seeds (black and white), salt and green chilies (3 pcs) with little water with it.

Now take a bowl, put the mustard paste, scraped coconut, turmeric powder, salt and water (I don’t use water, it is optional as it depends how much gravy you want) and mix all together.

Put the fish pieces into the mixture and mix them well. Keep it as it is for 20 minutes for marinating.

Now, there are different ways to do the rest of the preparation. I’ll discuss the 2 ways to do this.

1. Take an aluminum bowl (it is better to use aluminum bowl), put the marinated fish mixture in the bowl and add the mustard oil and split green chilies on the top. Cover the lid of the bowl. To do this preparation you should first prepare the steamed rice. Now, remove some steamed rice, place the aluminum bowl deep inside the rice bowl and cover the aluminum bowl entirely with the rice which you have taken out. Cover the lid of the rice bowl and wait for 25 to 30 minutes. Take out the fish bowl. Tour steamed Hilsha Fish is read,y.

2. Take a nonstick pan, add some mustard oil, place all the marinated fish pieces into the pan, drizzle the oil on the top, cover the lid tightly and place the pan on low heat for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes switch off the flame, and keep it as it is. Sorse Bhapa ILISH preparation is completed. Just before serving uncovered the lid and serve with hot steamed rice.