Hilsa Begun

I love to cook when I am with my family but when alone I just avoid cooking as much as possible. Anyway may be because of that I finally got some time  to Blog again after quite a long break.

To a Bengali Rainy season is incomplete without Hilsa fish. There are countless dishes one can prepare with Hilsa. Hilsa Begun is just one of them. 

Ingredients :

5 to 6 Hilsa (Ilish) pieces

1 Brinjal (Begun in Bengali) : Cut in thick slices

4 to 5 Green chillies slit vertically

Salt & Sugar to taste  

Mustard oil

Mustard paste

Kalunji or nigella seeds

Turmeric powder

Curd (optional)

Process:

Sprinkle turmeric powder and salt over the fish slices. Spread the spices evenly over the pieces by hand. Marinate for at least 15 minutes. Now heat  oil in a Kadai and fry the fish pieces one or two at a time. Fry till both side become golden brown. Similarly marinate the Brinjal pieces with turmeric 
powder and salt. Then fry them till they become golden.

Next heat  oil in a Kadai and add pinch of Kalunji seeds. When they start to splutter add the 
splitted green chillies. Give a stir. Then add Mustard paste and water in the Kadai and bring them to boil. Then carefully place the fried fish and Brinjal pieces into the Kadai. Add sugar/salt according to your taste. I sometimes add curd paste in it to give a little tangy twist.

Then cover the Kadai and simmer for few minutes. Serve hot with plain Rice.

Hilsa Begun