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.
Servings 5 People
Calories 384kcal
Cost Rs 500
Ingredients
- 4 pieces Hilsa Fish/ Ilish Mach including of the fish head and Tail
Vegetables:
- 2 Bitter gourd
- 3 Potato
- 1 Plantain
- 1 Sweet potato
- 1 Drumstick
- 1 Eggplant
Spices:
- 1 teaspoon Panch phoron whole
- 1 teaspoon Panch phoron powder
- 1 teaspoon Randhuni/ Celery Seed
- 2 Bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 tablespoon Mustard paste
- 1 tablespoon Ginger paste
- 1 tablespoon Poppyseed paste
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
Other:
- 3 tablespoon Mustard oil
- 150 ml Milk
- 1 tablespoon Ghee
Instructions
- 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.
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
Serving: 100g | Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 49.3g | Protein: 25.9g | Fat: 9.8g | Saturated Fat: 2.9g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 808mg | Fiber: 7.8g | Sugar: 16.9g
