Hilsa Bhapa (Steamed Hilsa) - South Asian Recipe

Hilsa Bhapa (Steamed Hilsa)

🌍 South Asian, Bangladesh Difficulty: ●●●○○

Bhapa (steaming) is a distinctly Bengali technique that preserves the delicate fat of hilsa without drying it out.

Ingredients

• 6 hilsa fish steaks
• 4 tbsp yellow mustard paste (made from 3 tbsp mustard seeds blended with water)
• 2 tbsp black mustard paste
• 4 green chilies, minced
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 3 tbsp mustard oil
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Mixing — Mix both mustard pastes with green chilies, turmeric, oil, and salt.
2. Coating — Coat fish steaks thoroughly with paste. Let marinate 30 min.
3. Placing — Place fish in a steel tiffin or covered bowl. Pour any remaining paste over.
4. Steaming — Steam in a pressure cooker or steamer 20 min.
5. Serving — Serve immediately with rice — the steam intensifies the mustard aroma dramatically.

Tags: hilsa fish steaks, yellow mustard paste, black mustard paste, green chilies, turmeric · Source: Brittani's Almanac