Sorshe Ilish Macher Jhal | Bengali Hilsa in Mustard Curry Recipe

Gluten Free

Sorshe Ilish Macher Jhal is a classic Bengali dish where Ilish or Hilsa Herring is cooked in a gravy of Mustard seed paste. This dish is very popular among the natives of Bangladesh and the eastern states of India, such as West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Assam.

Ilish Mach or Hilsa is one of the most sought-after fish as its availability is limited to a particular time of the year. It is believed that the season’s best catch of Ilish is made during the monsoon months of July to September. It is during this time when Ilish or Hilsa, otherwise a marine fish, swims upwards into the river to spawn.

Bangladesh is the largest producer of Ilish Maach, closely followed by the eastern states of India. As a result, Ilish is entwined with the Bengali culture in many ways. For instance, during any auspicious occasion, offering a pair of Illish to the deity is considered pious. During weddings, Ilish is often sent by the groom’s family to the bride as a gift.

Shorshe Ilish Macher Jhal Recipe

How to buy ilish mach or hilsa?

Buying Ilish Mach is nothing less than the job of a pro! One has to know the tricks to preserve its rich and oily taste. here are some of the pointers:

  • Always ask the fishmonger to wash the fish properly before slicing. Once it has been sliced, just ask him to carefully remove the guts before making pieces of the fish. Do not wash the cut pieces or you will lose the fish oil which makes for the delicious taste of this fish
  • Make sure to pack the fish roe and the fish oil as well. You do not want to miss out on something so delicious like these
  • If you are planning to cook it fresh, then simply rub some salt and turmeric powder and proceed with your recipe.
  • In case you wish to freeze it for later, rub some salt and turmeric powder and store them in air-tight containers
  • Fry the fish fat or oil in the same mustard oil and season it with some salt. Enjoy this oil with rice. It’s a rare delicacy

Ingredients for ilish macher jhal recipe

  • 4 nos. Hilsa or Ilish Mach pieces
  • 4 tbsp Mustard Oil
  • 1 tbsp Mustard Powder
  • 1 tbsp Poppy Seed paste
  • Salt to Taste
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 2 Green Chilies – slit in halves

Instructions to make shorshe bata diye ilish macher tel jhol

  • Heat oil in a pan. Add the slit green chilies
  • Slightly sear the fish pieces for a minute on each side. Do not allow them to go brown
  • Meanwhile, soak the remaining ingredients in 1/2 cup water and pour it over the fish pieces. Allow it to simmer for 8-10 minutes to cook the fish properly
  • Once done, serve it with a drizzle of mustard oil and a dash of lemon juice

Variations to this ilish macher jhal recipe

Ilish or Hilsa (or Pulasa) is an oily fish, hence, extremely rich in Omega3 fatty acids. It is believed to help reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood and regulate blood insulin levels.

The only challenge in eating Hilsa fish lies in the numerous tiny bones which makes eating this fish quite a task. It takes years of practice to master the skill of separating the tiny bones off the flesh of Ilish mach perfectly. After all, you don’t want to waste any morsel of this delicious (and exorbitantly priced) fish!

I understand that Hilsa or Ilish is not as readily available as in Southeast Asian countries. So, you can use American Shad fish instead for this Sorshe Ilish recipe. Otherwise, you can also use Salmon instead of Hilsa for this recipe.

Serving suggestion

This Sorshe Ilish recipe is the easiest and simplest way to relish the season’s fresh Hilsa. This is my personal view, a must-try ilish macher recipe for all the illish mach lovers. Serve this with boiled rice for a mouthwatering Bengali meal.

More ilish macher recipes

More Shorshe Bata diye Macher recipes

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Sorshe Ilish Macher Jhal | Bengali Hilsa in Mustard Curry Recipe
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 

This sorshe bata diye Ilish macher jhal recipe is the easiest and the simplest way to relish season's fresh Hilsa. This is my personal view, a must-try ilish macher recipe for all the ilish mach overs.

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Bengali
Keyword: Bengali Fish Recipes, Illish Maach Recipes, shorshe bata diye macher recipe
Servings: 2 People
Calories: 628 kcal
Ingredients
  • 4 nos. Illish Mach
  • 4 tbsp Mustard Oil
  • 1 tbsp Mustard Powder
  • 1 tbsp Poppy Seed paste
  • Salt to Taste
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 2 Green Chilies Slit in halves
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a pan. Add the slit green chilies.

  2. Slightly sear the fish pieces for a minute on each sides. Do not allow them to go brown.

  3. Meanwhile soak rest of the ingredients in 1/2 cup water and pour it over the fish pieces. Allow it to simmer for 8-10 minutes to cook the fish properly.

  4. Once done, serve it with a drizzle of mustard oil and a dash of lemon juice.

Recipe Notes

While using the Green Chilies, use your discretion as per your take on the heat.

Once you put the dish to simmer, note that there is ample amount of water in the pan. As poppy paste has a tendency to stick at the bottom of the dish and burn. Ample amount of water would avoid that.

In case you do not have Mustard Powder with you, you can grind 1/2 tsp of Mustard Seeds with the Poppy Seeds to make a smooth paste for this recipe. 

 

Replacing Hilsa/Ilish with 4 serving Kippered Boneless Herring Fillets Seafood Snacks Brunswick Brunswick 320 Calories per serving for Calorie calculation here.

This post was first published on May 3, 2020, and later republished on August 8, 2024, with a more elaborate description of the recipe.

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One response to “Sorshe Ilish Macher Jhal | Bengali Hilsa in Mustard Curry Recipe”

  1. […] অতি পরিচিত ইলিশ মাছের রেসিপি ( Ilish Macher Recipe in Bengali )। বাঙ্গালী আর ইলিশ মাছ একে অপরের […]

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Indian Food Blogger Priyanka Bhattacharya

Hi! I’m Priyanka!

A passionate home cook and food lover who loves nothing more than sharing my favourite recipes with the world.

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