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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- About the recipe
- 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!
- Related Fish Recipes
- Have you tried the Ilish Macher Korma Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's the Ilish Korma Pin for your Pinterest Board!
-Cara, you know how to make that really authentic Ilish Macher Korma, right?
-Why are you asking? Yeah, I guess I do, but I can't guarantee it's the real deal. Things change, you know? That's just my take on it.
-That makes sense! I had it last week at a Bengali lunch with friends and figured I'd give making it myself a shot.
-Hold on, why are you calling me, Cara, out of the blue? Your Italian is awful!
-Hmm, and your English isn't exactly top-notch either, so we're a pretty good match!
-Oh, be quiet!
-Okay, so can we get some of your Ilish Macher Korma, Debjani? Also, why is it always Shorshe Ilish or Doi Ilish with you? What's with the constant Hilsa fixation?
-Because I'm a Ghoti! What else would you expect from me other than Ilisher Shorshe Bhapa!
-You wouldn't get it. I've never seen your mom cook Hilsa. Your place is usually packed with vegetarian stuff and small fish-not that I'm complaining. She's an amazing cook, and she even picked up how to make that incredible Postor Halwa from her mom!
-Okay, so you're complimenting my mother-in-law now! Anyway, I'm a big fan of Hilsa. Can we please have the Ilish Macher Korma?
-Oh, and Mehebub, I actually kind of liked that Cara thing you did!
It all started like a normal day, but then Mehebub came home with a gorgeous 1.5 Kg Ilish from Lake Market! That's how I ended up making Ilish Macher Korma. Honestly, I was actually craving Ilish bhapa, Doi Ilish, or Ilisher Jhal. But you know, sometimes you just have to make your husband's favorite, especially when he still calls you "Cara" after seven years of marriage!
About the recipe
Just so you know, this Ilish Macher Korma isn't your typical Indian Hilsa dish. As far as I know, it's originally from Bangladesh, although someone on Instagram mentioned it's not actually a Bangladeshi recipe. That threw me off a bit, and I haven't found anything else to confirm it.
Ilish with Onion, Ginger, and Garlic?
You know, sometimes a tiny bit of cashew paste and garam masala gets thrown in, which is a little different, but it works. Ilish fish has its own special taste, and I like to keep the spices light so its natural flavor really comes through. I always go for the big Ilish fish when I make this. The bigger the fish, the more delicious and aromatic it is.
The gravy seemed to be a hit, maybe because it had a hint of sweetness. Mehebub said he really enjoyed Debjani's Ilish Macher Korma, and he even called it "Cara"!
So, I guess I should share how I make it so you can give my version of Ilish Macher Korma a try. Serve it up with some steamed rice, or as we call it, Gorom Bhat, and tell me 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 teaspoon Ginger Paste
- 1.5 teaspoon 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 tablespoon Turmeric Powder
- ½ teaspoon Bengali Garam Masala Powder
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon Ghee
- 4 tablespoon 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 cashew nuts 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 they 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 a medium flame till the onion turns 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 a little water (1 tsp) if the mixture is drying out.
- Now add curd and mix thoroughly. Cook on a medium flame until 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 bigger 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)
Related Fish Recipes
- Macher Jhol Piyaj, Aloo, Tomato, Dhonepata diye | Bengali Fish Curry with All-season Vegetables recipe with Video
- Bhetki Mach Bhapa | Bengali Bhapa Bhetki Recipe with Video | Steamed Indian Barramundi with Coconut, Mustard Paste and Yogurt
- Shorshe Posto Mach | Rui Maach Shorshe Posto Bata Diye
- Tawa Rupchand Fish Fry | Masala Fish Fry with Rupchanda Mach Recipe with Video
Have you tried the Ilish Macher Korma Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
Please inform me of your experience, and feel free to send a photo to [email protected]. Additionally, you can find me on various social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, Google News, X, and Thread. Don't forget to use the hashtag #debjanirrannaghar when sharing your attempts at my recipes or if you have any questions or recipe requests.
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