Ilish Macher Paturi | Shorshe diye Ilish Macher Bhapa Recipe | Bengali Hilsa Steamed in Banana Leaf
Ilish Machh’er Paturi
turmeric 2g | sugar 2g | salt 24g
coconut 40g
green chillies 8 pcs
yoghurt 50g
mustard oil 20g
brown + yellow mustard seeds 40g(soaked overnight and drained)
ilish machh 280g (or 4 pcs)3cm-thick pieces
Hilsa, our cultural icon, is facing extinction due to overfishing.
You can help stop that
1. Don’t buy any hilsa below 500g / 5cm.
2. Don’t buy hilsa during the breeding season (Oct–Nov), or even better, until March.
3. Avoid eating hilsa during the autumn months, even at restaurants.
Will it work? Yes! Bangladesh achieved a 50% increase in hilsa yield in 2016 by banning fishing during the autumn months. [Sources in description.]
Okay then, back to the recipe...
grind together soaked mustard seeds, 4 green chillies, and 100g water
the finer the grind, the better
add turmeric, salt, and sugar
peeled and chopped coconut
grind again till smooth
transfer to a bowl
beaten yoghurtmustard oil
mix till well combined
use folding motion to incorporate all the oil
spoon mixture over the ilish
coat fish with paste, making sure to fill up the cavities
leave aside to marinate for 15 minutes
meanwhile, wash and cut some kolapata (banana leaf)
each sheet should be about 20cm × 50cm
on low heat, gently toast the sheets as shown
this will prevent the leaves from cracking when folded
slit green chillies, one for each paturi
spoon a layer of mustard paste in the centre of a banana leaf
set an ilish machh on it
top off with some more paste
slit green chillies
carefully fold into a neat parcel
the sheet should large enough to wrap the fish completely
tie with a cotton string
wind twice over for added security
use cotton string; a synthetic material will melt when heated
tie a secure bow and cut off excess
add a tablespoon of oil to the pan
place paturi side by side
cover and steam on low heat, for 5 minutes on each side
turn over
cover and steam the other side too
Ilish Macher Paturi combines three of Bengal's greatest loves—the Hilsa fish, the banana plant, and mustard. Even though it looks very polished, it is a fairly easy recipe to execute. It requires very few ingredients, no special technique, and can be cooked very quickly. Ilish or Hilsa, is however, is facing extinction due to high demand and overfishing. There is a need to create more consciousness about the importance of conserving a fish that is perhaps Bengal's greatest cultural icon. Sources for the preservation of endangered hilsa: - http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/iucn_hilsa_study.pdf - https://scroll.in/article/806667/how-king-hilsa-made-a-comeback - http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/india-bangladesh-seek-to-save-the-delectable-hilsa-113062700390_1.html View the FULL RECIPE at https://bongeats.com/recipe/ilish-paturi/ ______________________________________________ RELATED VIDEOS How to cook the perfect rice: https://youtu.be/UkzICnqYMrY?list=PLGX3dcCcJDYweaL6mlxJ54UAoKZAjNluz Chingri bhaape: https://youtu.be/W4POHmKypkc?list=PLGX3dcCcJDYweaL6mlxJ54UAoKZAjNluz Pabda'r tel jhol: https://youtu.be/AMfGfjhJFNM?list=PLGX3dcCcJDYweaL6mlxJ54UAoKZAjNluz Koi machh'er jhol phulkopi diye: https://youtu.be/q6q2PZLSOSI?list=PLGX3dcCcJDYweaL6mlxJ54UAoKZAjNluz FIND US on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Google Plus @bongeats. MUSIC "Shonajhuri" by Bemanan (https://www.youtube.com/user/bemananmusic)