Here i am again after so many days.i was struck with a throat infection & fever which kept me attached to my bade for all those days.Now I'm filling fine & hungry too.So let us continue with our ILISH preparation.The unique point of this recipe is that it is done without any oil.Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:Ilish -300 gms
Kashmir chili ,seeds removed.
Turmeric powder1/2 teaspoon.
Whole coriander seeds-one big spoon full.
Tamarind-1 pod
Dried mango- 1 piece
salt
Coconut-1/2 grated
Procedure: Marinate the fish with salt & little turmeric for 1/2 an hour. Make a paste of kashmir chili,turmeric, coriander seeds & grated coconut.Place the pan on the oven &add the paste (no oil).Add little  water& fry for some time while stirring.Mix tamarind with the fried paste & add plenty of water.add dried mango. when the mixture comes into boil add the fish.Cook on a low flame until the fish is well done.Serve with steamed rice.
Have you noticed? The preparation is completely oil free.

More Ilish

Here is another recipe of Ilish while the season lasts.

   

   Ilish Makhani

Ingredients: Ilish-500 gms.

Yogurt-2 table spoon

Tomato-1 diced

Onions-2 ,grated

Sugar-2 teaspoon

Garlic-2 cloves, grated

Turmeric-a little

Mustard powder-2-teaspoon

Kashmir chili powder-2 teaspoon

Mustard oil-150 gms

Salt- as required.

Fry the fish and keep aside.Take oil in a deep pan and add onion & garlic paste.Fry for sometime.Add sugar & tomato.Continue to fry.When the tomato becomes a little tender add yogurt,mustard powder,chili powder, salt & turmeric.After frying for some more time add 1\2 cup of water & the fish pieces.

Flavour of the season

By the flavour I meant culinary flavor.And when you are talking Bengali cuisine at this time of the year,the flavor must be -Ilish.Yes.The rest of the world call it Hilsa but we Bengalis call it Ilish,the fish-a part of our culture.
I will present a simple recipe to day which is called -Ilish Vapa (steamed Ilish).
Ingredients:-Ilish (the whole fish should not be less than 500 grams) cut into pieces.  
                  Mustard past
                  Mustard oil
                  Salt   
                 Turmeric powder.  
Make mustard paste with green chillies (as many as you can withstand).Mix salt and turmeric powder to it.Add the fish.Smear paste thoroughly over the pieces.Put the whole thing in a container.Add mustard oil (about two table spoon full,- more if you are not that health conscious).Place whole green chillies, splited ,over the mixture.Close the container tightly.Now take two cups of water in a pressure cooker and place the container into it.Close the lid and cook.Two or three whistles would be sufficient.Try it.Its very simple and tastes great.Should be eaten with hot steamed rice. Enjoy it.