Ilish Jeera Paturi

Ilish / hilsha shad in monsoon is one of the biggest temptation for Bengalis world over, which they can hardly resist. Ilish is cooked in various way. When cooked in banan leaf or gourd leaf it’s called paturi as in Bengali leaf is called pata. Ilish when cooked in banana leaf takes the sweet flavor of the leaf and it enhance the taste of the recipe hundred times. I am sure you will love this a bit different type of spice mix paturi called Ilish Jeera paturi.

Preparation time : 15 minutes
Cooking time : 30 minutes
Serves : 4 

Ingredients: 
4  big pieces of ilish fish 
2 tbsp jeera / cumin paste 
1 tbsp red chilly paste or to taste
½  tsp turmeric powder
2 tbsp  yogurt 
a pinch of garam masala powder
4 whole green chilly
¼  cup of mustard oil
salt to taste 
4 to 6 Banana leaf

Methods of Cooking: 

In a bowl take cumin paste, red chilly paste, turmeic powder, yogurt, mustard oil and salt. mIx well. Now marinate the fish in this mixture for 10 minutes. Take heavy button iron cast tawa. Place the pieces of banan leaves on it. Make two three layers of leaves and then place the marinated fish, sprinkle little garam masala, top it with whole green chilly. Then cover it with another banana leaf. Cook in slow flame till the fish is well cooked and little charred at the bottom. Enjoy with hot steamed rice.

Happy Cooking!