Recipe: Yummy Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Cuisine)

Recipe: Yummy Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Cuisine) Delicious, fresh and tasty.

Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Cuisine). Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Style) Ilish Maach (Hilsa Fish) is undoubtedly the most favoured and popular fish among most of the Bengali crowd. Various types of recipes can be dished out with it. Wash and clean the fish pieces.

As I wrote on my Doi Ilish recipe post, a dish remains a silent witness to changing generations, different kitchens in different places and how with technology, the cooking method evolves.

So it was a pleasant surprise when ITC Sonar Kolkata started the festival of Royal recipes fit for a Queen to celebrate the Ilish and bring to the commoners table some closely guarded recipes from erstwhile.

The Hilsa fish is full of tiny bones which require trained eaters/hands to handle.

You can cook Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Cuisine) using 18 ingredients and 4 steps. Here is how you cook it.

Ingredients of Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Cuisine)

1. Prepare 2 pieces of Ilish Maach (Hilsa Fish).

2. You need 3 tbsp. of mustard oil.

3. It’s 1" of cinnamon stick.

4. You need 2-3 of green cardamoms.

5. You need 4-5 of cloves.

6. You need 1-2 of bay leaves.

7. You need 1 tsp. of cumin seeds.

8. You need 1 of onion, roughly chopped.

9. It’s 1" of ginger.

10. It’s 2-3 of garlic cloves.

11. You need 1-2 of green chilies.

12. It’s to taste of salt.

13. It’s 1 tsp. of cumin-coriander powder.

14. Prepare 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder.

15. It’s 1-2 of slit green chilies.

16. Prepare 1 tsp. of coriander leaves, chopped.

17. Prepare 1 cup of milk.

18. It’s 1/4 tsp. of saffron.

In Bengal, hilsa can be smoked, fried, steamed, baked in young plantain leaves, prepared with mustard seed paste, curd, brinjal (eggplant), different condiments like jeera and so on.

Mix everything in the Asparagus section.

You'll want them cooked but, still with a slight crisp.

Know you can also grill your asparagus.

Zafrani Ilish (Hilsa Fish cooked in Milk-Saffron Gravy - Bengali Cuisine) step by step

1. Marinate the fish pieces with a pinch of salt and turmeric powder for 10 minutes. Grind the onion, ginger, garlic and green chilies into a smooth paste. Keep aside. Add the saffron to the milk and keep aside..

2. Heat oil in a pan and fry the fish till light golden in colour. Drain and keep aside. Temper the same oil with bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves and cumin seeds. Saute for a few seconds..

3. Add the ground paste and all the dry spices. Stir fry till the oil separates. Add the saffron-milk and green chilies. Bring it to a boil..

4. Add the fried fish and simmer, covered for 2-3 minutes. Add the coriander leaves and switch off the flame. Serve with plain steamed rice..

Clean and heat your grill to high.

Add half of the grated coconut.

Cook in low heat, do not burn the coconut.

Add the grated ginger, cumin powder and the boiled-mashed mocha.

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