Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach; featuring Hilsa Fish cooked in a creamy and fragrant coconut Milk curry, this dish is a delightful combination of delicate and flavorful aromas and tastes.
This recipe for Narkel Doodh-e Ilish mach has been inspired by my previous recipe on the blog, Doodh Ilish, and vice versa. Doodh Ilish is a preparation of Hilsa fish cooked with milk. The method for this recipe is quite similar to the previous one, but with some minor variations that allow for the use of either coconut milk or regular milk.
Jump to:
- Debjani's Note
- Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach - variations
- Recipe Video - Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach
- Ingredients
- A recipe blog and channel run by a full-time working professional and a mother of three
- Ilish Mach- is it in denger?
- Top tip - how to use one Ilish mach to make different dishes including Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach
- Narkel Doodh- e Ilish aka Hilsa in coconut milk - Recipe
- Recipe Card
- Frequently Asked Questions - Hilsa Fish aka Ilish Mach
- Related Recipes and Pairing
- Ilish Mach Recipes - Common and Uncommon
- Let's connect over the Ilish Macher Jhol NArkeler Doodh diye recipe
- Narkel-er Doodh DIye Ilish Mach Recipe pin for you
Debjani's Note
I am still not okay with certain people using my recipes for commercial purposes without giving credit and claiming them as their own. Unfortunately, this has happened again with this recipe as well. After posting the reels and youtube video on Sunday, I noticed someone advertising a commercial sale of a similar recipe the very next day. Despite this, I will continue to focus on sharing my recipe and leave others to do as they please. However, I feel it is my duty to occasionally call out this behavior without directly naming names.
Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach - variations
Narkel doodh ilish recipes vary from family to family. Here, we have presented a lighter version of the dish, but you can also make it with more richness and complexity if you prefer. The choice is yours!
Recipe Video - Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach
Ingredients
The combination of the two ingredients -Hilsa and Coconut Milk creates a unique flavor that is both delicate and flavorful. Once you try this dish, you'll be hooked! For the rest, I use very basic ingredients, actually five - Mustard oil, green chili, turmeric powder, salt, and Nigella seed. Please see the recipe card for quantities.
A recipe blog and channel run by a full-time working professional and a mother of three
I usually work on it during my free time on Sundays or late at night since I'm a full-time CSR and ESG specialist who works more than eight hours a day. Apart from that I have three kids, one human, and two dogs, The reason why I started my blog and channel was because cooking is therapeutic for me, and as someone who suffers from insomnia, I needed something to do during my sleepless nights that would bring me joy.
Currently, my parents are visiting us which means that my mother, or Maa as I call her, has taken on the responsibility of cooking Bengali meals for us. One of her recipes that she enjoys making is Narkel Doodh Ilish, a dish that uses minimal spices when cooking Ilish Mach. I've been taking advantage of this opportunity to capture moments of her cooking, although creating content consistently is difficult as I don't have a team to help me with videos or writing.
Ilish Mach- is it in denger?
In the Indo-Bangladesh area, Ilish Mach is a renowned type of fish. It is a migratory fish that spends its life cycle alternately in brackish and fresh water. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, improper fishing techniques, and contamination, Hilsa is in danger.
The illegal trade of young Hilsa (Khoka Ilish) is one of the main reasons for this predicament. Therefore, we should not purchase Baby Hilsa. If possible, we should only purchase Ilish that weighs more than 1kg.
Top tip - how to use one Ilish mach to make different dishes including Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach
If you want to use one Ilish Mach to make various dishes without ethical concerns, here's a plan for a nuclear family. We only buy Ilish twice a year and aim for fish over 1.5kg. After cleaning the fish, I divided it into four portions. The head and tail are used to make Ilish Macher Ambole, while the remaining portions (around four pieces per set) are used to make different dishes. This way, we get to try various delicacies without over-procuring. Occasionally, if we visit Digha, Madarmani, or Sankarpur during the Ilish season, we purchase two to three whole fish (around 1.5kg) and refrigerate them as they are. However, we need to be mindful of how much we procure to save the species. Lastly, refuse to buy KHOKA ILISH.
Narkel Doodh- e Ilish aka Hilsa in coconut milk - Recipe
Recipe Card
Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach | Hilsa Fish Curry with Coconut Milk
Narkel Doodh-e Ilish Mach is a tantalizing dish featuring Hilsa Fish cooked in a mouthwatering coconut Milk curry. The aroma and taste of this combination are both delicate and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 600 g Ilish Mach/ Hilsa Fish 6 Pisces
- 400 ml Coconut Milk
- 2 Tsp. Salt
- 2 Tsp. Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tsp. Nigella Seed /Kalo jire/ Kalonji
- 6 Green Chillies
- 100 ml Mustard Oil
- Water as needed
Instructions
Marination and prep work
- We have used around 600g of Hilsa Fish cut into 6 pieces.
- Take cleaned and washed Ilish mach in a bowl and marinate with 1 Tsp. Salt, 1 Tsp. Turmeric Powder and 1 Tbsp. Mustard Oil as well.
- Keep the fish marinated for 15 minutes before cooking.
- Cut Green Chillies into long strips.
Frying Ilish Mach and Macher Tel
- Now heat 100ml Mustard Oil in a Kadhai.
- Please note, we are going to fry the fish lightly for this recipe. We will use the oil for this purpose. However, once the fish is fried, half of the oil from the pan will be separated to serve as Macher Tel.
- Fry Ilish mach lightly for 30 seconds on each side.
- Strain Ilish Mach bhaja aka fried Hilsa.
- Following the same process, fry the remaining pieces except for the lyaja aka the tailpiece.
- You need to fry Ilish macher lyaja for at least for 4 minutes.
- This means you need to fry and strain the round piece once done if you are frying it together with lyaja.
- Once done strain it too.
Cooking Hilsa Fish Curry with coconut Milk
- In the remaining oil, add 2 Green Chilies and fry those for a while.
- Then with the help of a ladle separate half of the oil along with the green chilies in a metal bowl.
- This is called Ilish Macher Tel. Serve it hot with steamed rice.
- If not making Macher Tel, use only 50ml oil to cook Hilsa in Coconut Milk.
- Temper remaining oil with 1 Tsp. Kalojire / Nigella Seed.
- Add 4 Green Chillies to the tempering and Cook for a minute on medium flame.
- Now add Coconut Milk.
- Add 1 Tsp. Turmeric Powder and 1 Tsp. Salt as well.
- Mix well and bring it to a boil and cook for 2 minutes.
- Now add 1 Cup of water. Mix again and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add Fried Hilsa and cook for 5 minutes.
- Once done switch the flame off and serve NArkel Doodh Ilish with Steamed Rice.
Video
Notes
- Giving Ilish mach a standing time after marination is optional however it helps in bringing the flavor from the fish after cooking.
- Never deep-fry Ilish mach while cooking curry. We even cook some dishes with hilsa without frying them.
- We used packaged coconut milk that can be replaced with freshly extracted coconut milk as well.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions - Hilsa Fish aka Ilish Mach
This section of the blog is meant to serve as a warning. It is advised that you avoid purchasing Khoka Ilish to ensure the preservation of the next generation. We don't want our future to only know Ilish through visual aids such as pictures, articles, and books. I'm confident that you share this sentiment, correct?
To ensure sustainable consumption of hilsa, it's crucial to plan before purchasing. One fish can be used to create multiple dishes, allowing for a diverse range of meals without overindulging. Below, I'll share some delicious hilsa recipes to inspire your cooking. Remember to eat in moderation and within the recommended timeframe to help preserve the hilsa fish population. Let's work together to protect this valuable species.
Related Recipes and Pairing
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these Hilsa Fish Curry recipes and pair them with steamed rice.
- Ilish Beguner Jhol (Hilsa Fish and Eggplant Curry)
- Barishali Ilish aka Ilish Barishali
- Ilish Macher Sorshe bata diye Jhal | Hilsa Fish in Mustard Gravy| Ilish er Shorshe Jhal | Shorshe Ilish
- Kumro diye Ilish Macher Jhol (Hilsa fish curry with Pumpkin)
- Sada Ilish aka Ilisher Panikhola (Ilish Panikhola)
- Kasundi Ilish (Hilsa cooked with Bengali Mustard Sauce Kasundi)
- Ilish Macher Korma | Ilish Macher Korma step-by-step recipe
- Ilish Shukto! The journey from Debjanir Rannaghar to Taj Bengal's Kitchen......
Ilish Mach Recipes - Common and Uncommon
- Doodh Ilish
- Ilish Mach er Dim Bhuna (also known as Ilish Mach er Dim er Jhuri)
- Lau Patay Ilish Paturi (also known as Lau Patay Ilish Bhapa)
- Madhabi Mukherjee's Ilish Macher Matha diye Badhakopi from Gateway Hotel's Ilish Festival!
- Nona Ilish Bhorta (also known as Nona Ilish Bhuna Recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar)!
- Bori Begun Aloo diye Ilish Macher Tel Jhol
- Ilish Pulao (also known as Bengali Hilsa Pulao Recipe)
Let's connect over the Ilish Macher Jhol NArkeler Doodh diye recipe
Please inform me of your experience and feel free to send a photo to dolonchttrj@gmail.com. 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.
Narkel-er Doodh DIye Ilish Mach Recipe pin for you
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.
Chaiti Pramanik says
Don't you think that with coconut jeera tastes better than Nigella? Of course it's only a suggestion.
Debjani says
With Ilish Mach? Well....No... However, taste in food is subjective. A friend of mine used to cherish Omelette with Tok Doi.