Ilish Macher Paturi or Ilish Paturi is an orthodox Bengali dish. This comprises fresh Hilsa fish, also known as Ilish mach and a carefully curated blend of spices.
The fish is cooked in wrapped banana leaves, which gives it the name “Paturi.”
This popular delicacy of Bangladesh and West Bengal is usually steamed or grilled, but it can also be fried along with the leaves on a frying pan.
Here is the quick recipe to follow.
Key Takeaways:
- Ilish Paturi is a traditional Bengali dish that highlights the flavors of Hilsa fish.
- It is typically cooked in banana leaves, giving its name “Paturi”.
- The star ingredient of this popular Bengali dish is the Hilsa fish coated with mustard paste and grated coconut.
- Replace the Hilsa fish with Prawn, Pomfret, or Bhetki as alternatives to this dish.
- Ilish Paturi is commonly served with steamed rice and offers a unique combination of mildness, aromatics, tanginess, and sweetness.
The Ingredients:
- Hilsa fish – 6 pieces (cut in thick slices and washed properly)
- Black mustard seeds – 2 tablespoons
- Turmeric powder – 1 tablespoon
- Kashmiri red chili powder -1/2 tablespoon
- Grated coconut – 2 tablespoons
- Green Chilis – 8-9 pieces
- Red Chilis – 5 pieces
- Mustard oil 4 tablespoons
- Banana leaves – 6 pieces (properly washed and sun dried)
How to Make Ilish Paturi (Step by Step Images)?
1. At first, clean and pat dry the banana leaves for making small parcels. You can either sun dry them or heat them over a pan.
2. Make a fine paste of black mustard seeds, grated coconut, salt, and green chilis. It is better to use both black and white mustard seeds in equal proportions.
3. Take the mustard paste in a separate bowl and then add turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, and mustard oil and salt to taste. Mix well.
4. Marinate the hilsa fish pieces by coating with the spices mix. Keep them aside for 10 minutes.
5. Place each piece of fish on a separate banana leaf and add little bit of mustard oil, one green chili, and one red chili on it. Repeat the same process for the other pieces of fish.
6. Wrap the fish pieces with the banana leaf, ensuring that it is fully covered. Use a cotton string to tie the parcel firmly.
7. Preheat a tawa on the gas stove and heat mustard oil.
8. When the oil is hot, place all the banana leaf wraps side by side on the tawa and cover it with the lid.
9. Once one side is cooked, flip the banana leaf wraps and cook the other side.
10. Steam the banana leaf wraps for 5 minutes on each side. You can place a lid on the pan.
11. Ilish Paturi is ready and now unwrap the banana leaf and serve it with steamed rice.
Recipe Card:
Ilish Macher Paturi (Hilsa Paturi, Ilish Paturi)
Ingredients
- 600 grams Hilsa fish (cut into 6 pieces and cleaned properly)
- 2 tablespoons Black mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon Turmeric powder
- ½ tablespoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- 2 tablespoons Grated coconut
- 8 pieces Green chilies
- 5 pieces Red Chilies
- 4 tablespoons Mustard oil
- Salt to taste
- 6 pieces Banana leaves (properly washed and sun dried)
Instructions
- At first, clean and pat dry the banana leaves for making small parcels. You can either sun dry them or heat them over a pan.
- Make a fine paste of black mustard seeds, grated coconut, salt, and green chilis. It is better to use both black and white mustard seeds in equal proportions.
- Take the mustard paste in a separate bowl and then add turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, and mustard oil and salt to taste. Mix well.
- Marinate the hilsa fish pieces by coating with the spices mix. Keep them aside for 10 minutes.
- Place each piece of fish on a separate banana leaf and add little bit of mustard oil, one green chili, and one red chili on it. Repeat the same process for the other pieces of fish.
- Wrap the fish pieces with the banana leaf, ensuring that it is fully covered. Use a cotton string to tie the parcel firmly.
- Preheat a tawa on the gas stove and heat mustard oil.
- When the oil is hot, place all the banana leaf wraps side by side on the tawa and cover it with the lid.
- Once one side is cooked, flip the banana leaf wraps and cook the other side.
- Steam the banana leaf wraps for 5 minutes on each side. You can place a lid on the pan.
- Ilish Paturi is ready and now unwrap the banana leaf and serve it with steamed rice.
