Bhapa ilish (Hilsa steamed in mustard gravy). Steamed Hilsha or Ilish Bhapa is very Rich Gravy and popular delicious fish dish in Bengali Cuisine and one of the best fish preparations. Hilsa fish steamed in mustard sauce. Ilish bhaape, also known as Shorshe lish bhapa (or bhaape) meaning steamed mustard hilsa, is a Bengali recipe of hilsa fish (a type of shad) steamed in a potent mustard, doi (yoghurt) and coconut paste.

At the restaurant when we pored over the menu we weren't quite sure if we would like the taste of a load of mustard in our curry. Shorshe Bhapa Ilish (Steamed Hilsa) - A traditional Bengali fish recipe made by steaming fish steamed in mustard sauce. Doi Ilish is a typical Bengali Hilsa Recipe, where raw Hilsa fish is steamed in Yogurt and Mustured Sauce. You can have Bhapa ilish (Hilsa steamed in mustard gravy) using 8 ingredients and 4 steps. Here is how you achieve it.

Ingredients of Bhapa ilish (Hilsa steamed in mustard gravy)

It's 4 of hilsa pieces.
You need 1-2 tsp of turmeric powder.
It's 1/2 tsp of sugar.
You need 3 tsp of mustard oil.
Prepare 2 tsp of black mastard.
Prepare 4-5 of green chillies.
Prepare 2-3 of or 1-2 tsp small coconut slices or dry coconut powder.
You need To taste of Salt.

Doi Ilish should be served with Steamed rice. Today I am going to share a very popular dish of Hilsa is "Doi Ilish", that is mean Hilsa cooked with mustard & yogurt. Because she is what I am reading these days, I mean "she" as in about her, books where she is the main character. Doi Ilish Bhapa is an age-old Bengali delicacy where Hilsa pieces cooked in a divine Mustard-Yogurt gravy.

Bhapa ilish (Hilsa steamed in mustard gravy) instructions

Clean the fish pieces and marinate with pinch of salt, turmeric powder and mustard oil. Keep aside for 5 minutes. Meanwhile in a mixer add mustard seeds, coconut, water and grind into semi smooth paste. Now add green chillies and grind into smooth paste. Add this mixture to marinated fish and add mustard oil, little salt, sugar and turmeric paste. Coat all the fish pieces very nicely and keep for marinating for another 10 minutes..
Now take a deep bottom vessel. Fill 1/4 portion with water. Keep steel stand unter the water. Keep on medium flame for 5 minutes..
Now transfer the marinated fishes to a steel box with cover. Add green chillies (slited). Cover the box tightly. Now keep the box on the stand kept inside the vessel. Cover the vessel and keep on medium flame for 10 minutes. Switch off the flame after 10 minutes, but don't remove the cover. Keep it like that for 10 more minutes. Now keep the vessel under running cold water so that steel box cover can be removed easily..
Serve with steam rice..

Hilsa in simple Mustard Sauce or Ilish Shorshe is the simplest recipe of Hilsa and mustard paste. Ilish, is one of the favorite and a Bengali Delicacy. It is the most wanted fish for the Bengalis. Doi Ilish as I name it, for my husband this is Shorshe Ilish (Hilsa/Shad in Mustard Sauce). Well apart from whatever you call the recipe, it is a traditional Bengali Recipe and we are acquainted with the taste.