I learned to make Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi, or Hilsa fish head cooked with Cabbage, a Bengali fish dish, directly from the famous Bengali actress Madhabi Mukherjee!
Jump to:
- Debjani's Note
- The Hilsa Romance and Aro Dure Cholo Jai
- The Ilish Thali
- Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi; from Gateway's Kitchen to Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's how you make Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi following Madhabi Mukherjee's Recipe!
- Recipe Card
- Ilish Mach Recipes
- Related Recipes
- Have you tried the Bengali Ilishér Matha diye Bandhakopi recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's the Ilish Macher Matha diye Bandhakopi Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board!
Debjani's Note
This year's Hilsa festival at The Gateway Hotel, EM Bypass, Kolkata, was full of surprises, not just a typical tasting. Bengali actress Madhabi Mukherjee personally created this year's Hilsa menu. Her two dishes, Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi and Anaroshi Ilish, were featured in the 2018 Rupoli Itikotha Hilsa Festival, alongside amazing creations by Chef Deep Mitra Thakur and his team.
The Hilsa Romance and Aro Dure Cholo Jai
I was unsure if I could attend the event because of an office board meeting. Then, my father made a terrible comment, "Please go, Dolon, meet Charulata, and get a picture. Do something useful!" I almost asked what he meant, but decided against it, as I was already running late. It took me 30 minutes to get from my office in Sector 5 to The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass, Kolkata, and I must have asked the cab driver to speed up at least 50 times! How could I not be excited?
I was about to meet the renowned Madhabi Mukherjee and taste her homemade Ilish dishes! When I arrived at the hotel, I saw her preparing Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi and Anaroshi Ilish.
Many guests were gathered around her, chatting, and I heard her sharing stories about her time in Bangladesh and her love for Ilish. I remained silent, simply watching her cook effortlessly alongside home chef Sukanya. She was still as beautiful and graceful as ever.
The Ilish Thali
You might wonder why I'm focusing on Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi and not Anaroshi Ilish. My friend, the simple reason is that I always prefer dishes made with fish heads or tails over those made with fillets or the main body. I believe it takes a special touch to use parts that are often thrown away, though not by Bengalis.
Of course, I enjoyed the Ilish Pithe and Ilish Salad, among other dishes in the thali. The Kochu Patay Mora Narkeli Ilish was truly a surprise. Interestingly, no one, not even those from Bangladesh, could identify the Kochu Pata (Colocasia leaf). I also have to mention the Ilish Pulao, and finally, the Ilish Peti Sandesh. Overall, I think the Thali offers great value, considering the portion sizes, variety of items, and the excellent cooking skills involved!
Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi; from Gateway's Kitchen to Debjanir Rannaghar!
I was quite busy eating that day, so I only managed to take a few pictures. However, I decided I wanted to cook one dish when I got home, so I asked them for the recipe for Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi.
I made "Matha diye Badhakopi" at home, and everyone truly enjoyed it. Plus, my daughter Pasta even offered to be my hand model for the photos!
This dish, "Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi," is essentially cabbage cooked with fish head, potatoes, and peas. It's quite simple to prepare, using common spices and a tempering of oil. Madhabi, a friend, suggested slow cooking, which is actually a great tip for any dish made with cabbage.
Here's how you make Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi following Madhabi Mukherjee's Recipe!
Recipe Card
Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi
Ingredients
- 1 Hilsa Head
- 1 Cabbage
- 2 Potato
- ½ cup Peas
- 2 Onion
- 1 Tomato
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Paste
- 1.5 teaspoon Garlic Paste
- 4 Green Chilli
- 1 teaspoon Coriender Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 Bay Leaf
- 1 Dry Red Chilli optional
- 1 Cinnamon Stick optional
- 1 tablespoon Ghee
- 3 tablespoon Mustard Oil
Instructions
- Wash Hilsa head and cut into two halves.
- Sprinkle Turmeric Powder and salt and marinade fish head.
- Cut Cabbage into long strips and wash thoroughly.
- Peel the skin and cut Potatoes into small cubes.
- Chop Onion and Tomatoes.
- Make a paste of Cumin and coriander powder with little water.
- Heat Oil in a pan and deep fry fish head chunks and strain from the oil.
- Shallow fry Potatoes.
- Temper remaining oil with Bay leaf, Cinnamon stick, and dry red chili.
- Now add chopped onion and cook till it turns translucent.
- Add chopped tomatoes, ginger and garlic paste an
- Add salt, Sugar, Red chilli powder, Cumin and coriander paste, and turmeric powder. and cook till oil comes out from the side.
- Now add chopped cabbage, and mix thoroughly and cook by covering the pan with a lid till cabbage softens over the low flame.
- This will take around 15 minutes.
- Add fried potatoes and green peas and mix thoroughly.
- Add fried fish head chunks.
- Adjust spices and cook till the cabbage reduces and properly cooked.
- Add Ghee and Garam Masala powder and mix thoroughly.
- Serve it hot with steamed rice.
Notes
- Instead of Powdered Cumin and coriander, you may use whole Cumin and coriander seed to make the paste.
- You may increase the amount of fishhead.
- This dish can be cooked with other fish heads as well.
Nutrition
Ilish Mach Recipes
- Doodh Ilish
- Barishali Ilish aka Ilish Barishali
- Sada Ilish aka Ilisher Panikhola (Ilish Panikhola)
- Ilish Macher Tok aka Ilish Macher Tawk
- Lau Patay Ilish Paturi (Lau Patay Ilish Bhapa)
- Ilish Macher Korma | Ilish Macher Korma step-by-step recipe
Related Recipes
Have you tried the Bengali Ilishér Matha diye Bandhakopi 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 Macher Matha diye Bandhakopi Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board!
Disclaimer: I was invited by the management of The Gateway Hotel EM Bypass Kolkata for the Rupoli Itikotha Festival in 2018. Please note that I wrote this post in 2018 when the Taj Vivanta on Kolkata's EM bypass was called the Gateway Hotel. I decided to keep those original details. If you search for the Gateway Hotel in Kolkata today, you won't find it; it's now known as Vivanta by Taj.
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.
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