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.
