Hot on Hilsa - Bhapa Ilish

Ingredients to cook Bhapa Ilish

Hilsa Fish - 6 pieces 

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp (for marination)

Black Mustard seed - 2 tbsp 

Green Chili - 6 (3 for making mustard paste, 3 for adding to gravy)

Salt - 1 tbsp ( 1 pinch for marination, rest is for making paste)

Mustard Oil - 1 tsp (yes, it is must if you want the traditional flavour... to be spread on top of Hilsa fishes)

Water - as per your requirement (to make the paste, to boil the marinated fish pieces)

Process to cook Bhapa Ilish

1.Soak the black mustard seeds in a cup of water. Add salt and green chilis. Add little water. Make a smooth paste with it by a blender. Keep the paste inside the blender bowl.

2. Take the Hilsa fish pieces. Spread salt and turmeric powder on them. Rub them carefully. Keep them aside for marination... for just 10 minutes.

3. Place the fish pieces in big size bowl. Pour entire mustard paste over the fish pieces. Make sure that the paste covers all the fish pieces.

4. Cut few green chilis. You have to cut them vertically. Place them in the fish bowl.

5. Take lots of water in a pressure cooker. Place it in an oven. Heat the water for 2-3 minutes.

6. Reduce the heat. Place the fish bowl inside the pressure cooker. Cover the cooker with its lid. Allow it to cook for 7-10 minutes.

7. Take out the bowl. Check if the fish piece is soft. If not, cook it once again for few minutes.

Flip over all the fish pieces one by one.

8. Now add little mustard oil on the fish pieces. Keep the bowl covered aside for few minutes.

Once it becomes cool, you can serve it with hot rice.