Ilish Barishali

Ilish Barishali is a one of the most delicious Ilish recipe I have ever tried. I have first tested it in a reputed & authenticate restaurant  of Kolkata. & after returning back to home I started to search the recipe on that very day...But unfortunately I didn't find it. Then again I went to the same restaurant for a lunch. That time my intention was not the food, it was anyhow to collect the recipe from the Chef. You can understand how difficult it is to get the recipe from a professional chef at his restaurant. Thank God I made it. ..
So I want to share the recipe with you all. Hope you all would like it like me.

Ingredients :-

• Ilish or Hilsha - 2 large pieces
• Nigella seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Yogurt - 1 tablespoon
• Mustard seed paste - 1 1/2 tablespoon
• Poppy seed paste - 1 1/2 tablespoon
• finely Grated coconut - 1 1/2 table spoon
• Turmeric - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - As per taste
• Mustard Oil - 2-3 tablespoon
• Whole green chili - 3-4
• Green chili paste - 1/2 teaspoon (You can paste the same with mustard seed)

Method :-

As Usual we the Bangalis always start any kind of fish recipe with rubbing the salt & turmeric on the fish & I also did the same. 
Now heat oil in a pan. let the oil become very hot. Add Nigella Seeds.
Add the Ilish pieces into the oil. Dont fry it very hard. Let it fry only for a few minutes. 
In the mean time add some turmeric powder into yogurt & mix it very well. Add this into pan.
let it cook for few minutes.
Now in a small bowl add the mustard seed paste, poppy seed paste, grated coconut & green chili paste. mix all the ingredients very well & add this into the pan. 
Add little water.
Add salt as per your taste. 
Add green chili. & let it boil for 10-12 minutes.
Check the thickness of gravy.
Now stitch off your oven & add 1/2 or 1 teaspoon of mustard oil in this & cover it up for few more minutes.
Your Ilish Barishali is now ready to serve.

Serve it with steamed rice & yes dont forget to add your love into the dish to make the preparation more delicious !!!!!

Ilish Macher Paturi (Hilsha fish wrapped in bottle gourd leaf)

Ilish (Hilsha)....an icon of Bengali Cuisine. Its the one of the most popular fish in West Bengal, Bangladesh as well as in Orissa. But I believe what ever the origin or nationality, one who have had Ilish for once, he/she must fall in love with this fish.

I would like to share some important information regarding this magic fish. Ilish is rich in essential fatty acids & it helps to reduce the cholesterol & insulin level. 

Now lets start to prepare one of the most delicious Ilish recipe..the Ilish Paturi..Its called Paturi because the fish is being wrapped by a green leaf, specially banana or bottle gourd leaf. I prefer bottle gourd leaf. But you may choose whatever would be convenient to you.

Ingredients :-
Ilish Fish - 2 medium pieces
Mustard Paste (Yellow mustard seed)  - 1 1/2 table spoon
Poppy Seed Paste - 1 1/2 table spoon
Green Chili Paste 1/2 teaspoon
Whole Green Chili - 2-3 nos
Mustard Oil - 2 table spoon
Salt - As per taste
Turmeric Powder - A little Pinch
4 medium sized bottle gourd leaf
Some thread to wrap the fish

Method :-

• Wash the fish properly
• Marinate the fish with mustard paste, poppy seed paste, turmeric powder, salt, chili paste & mustard oil together for 30-40 minutes.
• In between wash the leafs properly.
• Now place one piece of fish in the center of the leaf & wrap it. At this point you can add one whole green chili on the fish & wrap it. When you get the leaf close add the other leaf to wrap the fish again. Please note that bottle gourd leaf is very tender so wrap it with two leaves, otherwise it might not be prepared properly. Now bind the leaves by using the thread. You can find the thread in the picture.
• When you complete the wrapping process heat a non-stick tawa. Add little mustard oil & place the wrapped fish on it. Keep the flame lower. After few minutes turn the other side of the fish. When the color of the leaf turn quite blackish you may sure that your Ilish Paturi is ready.
• Let it little bit cool, unwrap the fish & remove the thread.
• Add some more mustard oil over the fish.This step is optional. But some people like the smell of the mustard oil over the Ilish fish. & I do it.
• & Last but not the least serve with your love & affection.

Grandma's Tips :- 

"My Grandma told that the Paturi gets more tasty if it is prepared by bottle gourd leaf. As bottle gourd leaf of edible so, you can also have the wrapping leaf along with your fish. & It is very tender in nature so the fish gets cooked very soon."

So I always prefer a Paturi by botltle gourd leaf or Lau Pata. Now enjoy the delicious Ilish Paturi with hot plain boiled rice..!

Spicy Pomfret Fry

This is my first blog post. Being a Bengali we always consider the fish as an Auspicious starting...so I decided to post a very simple fish recipe. Basically we Bengali s cant think our lunch without having fish.

Though most of us choose fish of its various flavors but apart from the taste, fish is an important source of protein. It provides the elements needed to grow & repair worn out body tissues. 
Now here the recipe for simple Spicy Pomfret Fry

Ingredients 
Pomfret Fish (Whole) - 2 medium size
Ginger & Garlic Paste -  1 teaspoon
Cumin Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Coriander Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Salt - to taste (Being a seafish Pomfret is tastes little salty)
Soya sauce - 1 tablespoon
Vinegar - 1 tablespoon
Oil - To fry ( Not to deep fry)


For Garnishing
1 medium Onion (Finely chopped)
1 green/red chili
A slice of lemon 
A pinch of Garam Mashala


Method

• Marinate the fish with all the ingredients except the oil for at least 1 hour.  
• Heat approximate 2 tablespoon of oil in a frying pan. Keep in mind that it will not deeply fried. It will be shallow frying. now place the fish. You can make the two fish at the same time or one by one. Its upto your pan size. 
• After frying place it on a servicing plate & now sprinkle the garam mashala over the fried fishes, following fried sliced onion, green/red chili & the lemon juice. 
• & last but not the least serve with your love & affection. 

You can have it with plain boiled rice & daal or as a starer.


Hope you will enjoy the recipe. :)