BHAPA ILISH || SORSE BATA ILISH

Shorshe bata Illish is a quintessential Bengali dish, the seasonal Hilsa fish is cooked in mustard paste. BONG's are great food lovers and take pride in their cuisine. Here is another favorite  BONG cuisine "Sorse Bata Ilish" OR "Bhapa Ilish" 

Ingredients: 

Ilish / Hilsa fish - 500 gm
Black mustard seeds - 2 tsp
White mustard seeds - 3 tsp
Green chillies - 3-4
Red chillies -1-2
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Mustard oil - 2 tsp

Process:  

1. Wash the Ilish pieces and keep aside.
2. Soak the mustard seeds (both black and white ) in a little bit of water for at least 10 – 15 minutes. Drain the water from the mustard seeds and then make a smooth paste of the mustard seeds, green chillies , turmeric powder and salt.
3. Marinate the fish pieces nicely with the prepared paste and some mustard oil and let the fish marinate for at least 1 hour. The pieces should be placed nicely in a vessel without the pieces overlapping. 
4. Keep the vessel on the gas, on medium flame allow the fish to cook.
5. The fish is ready when the mustard oil starts floating on the top. Do not make the gravy dry because the gravy of this dish is very tasty to have with rice.
6. Serve hot with steamed rice.