Ilish Macher Korma, a special Hilsa fish curry featuring onions and garlic, offers a unique flavor different from other Hilsa preparations. Particularly popular in Bangladesh, this delightful dish is sure to become a favorite. Here's the recipe for you to try!
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- Ilish Macher Korma, a few details!
- Ilish with Onion, Ginger, and Garlic?
- Here's how I make Ilish Macher Korma at Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Recipe Card
- llish Mach Recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Have you tried the Ilish Macher Korma Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's the Ilish Korma Pin for your Pinterest Board!
"Cara, do you know how to make real Ilish Macher Korma?"
"Why do you ask? And yes, I do, though I can't promise it's the "authentic" version! Food evolves, you know? At least, that's how I see it."
"Makes sense, Cara! I had it last week at a Bengali lunch with friends and thought I'd try making it at home."
"Wait, why are you calling me Cara all of a sudden? Your Italian is terrible!"
"Hmmm, and your English isn't much better, which makes us a good pair!"
"Shut up!"
"Okay, can we please have some of your Ilish Macher Korma, Debjani? Also, why do you always cook Shorshe Ilish (Hilsa Fish Curry with mustard paste) or Doi Ilish (Hilsa with yogurt)? What's with the obsession?"
"Because I'm a Ghoti! What else would you expect besides Ilisher Shorshe Bhapa!"
You wouldn't understand! I've never seen your mother cook Ilish. Your home is usually filled with vegetarian dishes and small fish-not that I mind. After all, she's a fantastic cook and even learned how to make incredible Postor Halwa from her mother!
"Alright, so you complimented my mother-in-law! Anyway, I love Ilish. Can we please have the Ilish Macher Korma?"
"Oh, and Mehebub, I actually liked that Cara thing you did!"
Ilish Macher Korma, a few details!
It started like any other everyday chat at home, but then Mehebub surprised me by bringing home a beautiful 1.5 Kg Ilish fish from Lake Market! So, I ended up making Ilish Macher Korma. Honestly, I was really in the mood for Ilish bhapa, Doi Ilish, or Ilisher Jhal. But sometimes, you've got to cook your husband's favorite, especially when he calls you "Cara" even after seven years of marriage!
Now, this Ilish Macher Korma isn't your usual Indian-style Hilsa dish. From what I understand, it's originally from Bangladesh, though a reader commented on my Instagram post saying it's not actually a Bangladeshi recipe! That surprised me, but I haven't been able to find any other information to confirm that.
Ilish with Onion, Ginger, and Garlic?
Even little Cashew nut paste and Garam Masala are also used which obviously a bit unique. Ilish has its' own taste and I prefer to use moderate spices to keep the original flavor of Ilish intact. I prefer to use big-size Ilish to make this dish. Ilish has such a wonderful flavor on its own that I prefer to use spices sparingly, so the natural taste of the fish really shines through.
The bigger the Ilish, the more delicious and fragrant it becomes.
Pasta seemed to really enjoy the gravy, probably because it was slightly sweet. Mehebub mentioned that he savored Debjani's Ilish Macher Korma, also with a "Cara"!
Now, I should probably share my recipe so you can try my version of Ilish Macher Korma. Give it a shot with a spoonful (or maybe more!) of steamed rice (or, as we say, *Gorom Bhat*) and let me know what you think!
Here's how I make Ilish Macher Korma at Debjanir Rannaghar!
Recipe Card
Ilish Macher Korma
Ingredients
- 8 pieces Ilish Maach/ Hilsa Fish Chunk 100g each
- 3 Onion
- 1 Tsp. Ginger Paste
- 1.5 Tsp. Garlic Paste
- 10 Green Chili
- 25 Cashew Nut
- 10 Raisin
- 75 ml Milk ½ Cup
- 75 ml Hung Curd ½ Cup
For Tempering:
- 1 Whole Cinamon
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 4 Green Cardamom
- 2 Red Chili
Spices:
- 1 Tbsp. Turmeric Powder
- ½ Tsp. Bengali Garam Masala Powder
- 1 Tsp. Sugar
- 1 Tsp. Salt or to taste
- 1 Tbsp. Ghee
- 4 Tbsp. Mustard Oil
Instructions
- Wash the Hilsa chunks, and rub some turmeric powder and salt into the fish chunks and leave for 15 minutes.
- Make a paste of two onions and thinly slice one.
- Soak Cashewnut in hot water for 10 minutes and make a smooth paste of the nuts after that.
- Thinly slice one onion to make Piaj Beresta or Onion crisp.
- Heat the Oil in a wok and fry the sliced onion till that turn golden brown and crispy.
- Lightly fry Ilish Maach in the remaining oil ( hardly 30-45 seconds on each side) and strain from the oil.
- Temper the Oil with Whole Cinamon, Bay Leaf, Green Cardamom, and Red Chili.
- Add sliced onion and fry.
- Now add Onion paste and cook on medium flame till the onion turn brown.
- Add Ginger and Garlic Paste along with 2-3 green chili (cut into halves) and cook till the mixture leaves the edges of the pan.
- Add little water ( 1 Tsp.) in the case found the mixture drying much.
- Now add curd and mix thoroughly and cook in medium flame till the oil separates from the mixture.
- Add Salt and Sugar to the mixture and mix.
- Add Cashewnut paste and whole Raisin and cook till the nutty aroma goes completely from the mixture.
- At this point, add milk along with 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil.
- Add fried Hilsa chunks and cook for 5-7 minutes or till the gravy thickens and oil separates from the mixture.
- Add Ghee, Garam Masala powder, and Fried Onion (Beresta) and mix.
- Serve Ilish Macher Korma with steamed rice.
Notes
- The big the size of the fish from which the pieces have been taken, the tastier is the dish.
- You may increase or decrease the spices as per taste.
- Ghee can be skipped for a low-calorie version.
Nutrition
llish Mach Recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Lau Patay Ilish Paturi (Also known as Lau Patay Ilish Bhapa)
- Sada Ilish aka Ilisher PaniKhola (also known as Ilish Pani Khola)
- Mawa Ghater Ilish Macher Lejar Bhorta (Also known as Ilish Macher Bhorta)
- Ilish Shukto (Also known as macher mathar shukto)
- Ilish Macher Tok (Also known as Ilish Macher Tawk)
- Kasundi Ilish (Also known as Hilsa cooked with Bengali Mustard Sauce Kasundi)
- Bori Begun Aloo diye Ilish Macher Tel Jhol (Also known as Ilisher Tel Jhol)
- Doi Ilish (Also known as Hilsa with Curd)
- Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi (Also known as ilish mathar ghonto)
- Bhapa Ilish (Also known as Steamed Hilsa Fish or Ilish Bhapa)
- Ilish Pulao (Also known as Bengali Hilsa Pulao)
- Ilish Macher Sorshe bata diye Jhal (Also known as Hilsa Fish in Mustard Gravy)
Have you tried the Ilish Macher Korma Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
Do let me know how it came out. Also, I would love to see a picture of the same which you can share here on [email protected]. In Instagram, you can use my hashtag #debjanirrannaghar or can tag me at @foodofdebjani.
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Here's the Ilish Korma Pin for your Pinterest Board!
About Debjani Chatterjee Alam
I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.
anindya sundar basu says
khabar ashate roilam. Would be keen to know the exact origin and history of this dish