Ilish Shukto Recipe

Ilish Shukto is a Bengali-style Hilsa Fish and veggie curry flavored with Randhuni and five spices. This is different from the general Shuto.

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Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Bengali

Keyword: Bengali Ilish Mach recipe, Debjanir Rannaghar, ilish shukto recipe, Shukto recipe

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 35

Servings: People

Calories: 384kcal

Cost: Rs 500

Get Recipe Ingredients

Marinate Hilsa chunks (head, tail, and pieces) with salt and half of the turmeric powder, and then leave for 10 minutes.
Cut the veggies into long strips after peeling the skin (potato, plantain, sweet potato, drumstick).
Cut the bitter gourd and eggplant with the skin on. These two need to be marinated with salt and turmeric powder.
Heat mustard oil in a deep-bottom pan.
Shallow fry fish chunks on both sides. 30 seconds from both sides is enough.
Fry the head and tail for extra time till they are properly fried.
Now shallow fry the veggies one by one. Potato, sweet potato, and Plantain require extra frying time.
Temper remaining oil with 2 bay leaves, whole 5 spices aka Panch Foron, and Radhuni.
Now add ginger paste, followed by mustard paste and poppy seed paste.
Cook for a minute or two by adding 1 Tbsp. of water.
Add Salt and Sugar, and give a thorough mix.
Now add 1 teaspoon of powdered 5 spices, and cook for a minute or two.
Add milk and 3 cups of water, and bring it to a boil after adding salt and sugar.
Finally, add fried Potato, Sweet Potato, and Plantain and cook until those soften.
Add Drumstick, Fried Eggplant, and Fried Bitter gourd, followed by the fried fish chunks.
Cook on low flame for 5-7 minutes by covering the pan with a lid.
If required, add some more water.
Once done, add Ghee and switch the flame off after mixing it.

You may cook Ilish Shukto without using the Head and tail; however, these two enhance the flavor.
Bitter Gourd balances the flavor; obviously is optional.
Turmeric powder, needless to say, is optional.
Ghee and milk are optional as well if you are planning to cook a low-calorie and flat version of the dish.