🐟 Hilsa Fish Curry with Brinjal (Ilish Begun-er Jhol) 🍆🔥

A traditional Bengali delight, Hilsa Fish Curry with Brinjal (Ilish Begun-er Jhol) is a simple yet delicious dish where the rich flavors of Hilsa (Ilish) blend beautifully with tender brinjal (eggplant). This light and aromatic curry is best enjoyed with steamed rice.

🛒 Ingredients

For the Fish Preparation:

✔ Hilsa Fish (Ilish Maach) – 4-5 pieces
✔ Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
✔ Salt – To taste
✔ Mustard Oil – 3 tbsp

For the Curry:

✔ Brinjal (Eggplant), sliced – 1 medium
✔ Green Chilies, slit – 3-4
✔ Nigella Seeds (Kalonji) – ½ tsp
✔ Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Red Chili Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Salt – To taste
✔ Mustard Paste – 2 tbsp (blend mustard seeds with water)
✔ Water – 1 cup
✔ Mustard Oil – 2 tbsp

👩‍🍳 Cooking Process

1️⃣ Marinate & Fry the Hilsa

1️⃣ Wash the Hilsa pieces and pat them dry.
2️⃣ Marinate with turmeric powder and salt.
3️⃣ Heat 3 tbsp mustard oil in a pan until smoking hot.
4️⃣ Fry the fish lightly on both sides and set aside.

2️⃣ Fry the Brinjal

1️⃣ In the same oil, add sliced brinjal and fry until golden brown.
2️⃣ Remove and keep aside.

3️⃣ Preparing the Curry

1️⃣ Heat 2 tbsp mustard oil in a pan.
2️⃣ Add nigella seeds (kalonji) and let them splutter.
3️⃣ Add green chilies and stir for a few seconds.
4️⃣ Add turmeric, red chili powder, and salt.
5️⃣ Pour in 1 cup water and bring to a boil.

4️⃣ Bringing It All Together

1️⃣ Add the fried brinjal into the simmering curry.
2️⃣ Gently place the fried hilsa into the pan.
3️⃣ Pour in the mustard paste and stir gently.
4️⃣ Cover and simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors infuse.
5️⃣ Drizzle a little mustard oil on top for extra aroma.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

✅ Serve hot with steamed rice for an authentic Bengali experience. 🍚🔥

📌 Footnote:

This dish is a must-try during the Sundarban Hilsa Festival, where fresh Hilsa (Ilish) is celebrated with a variety of exquisite dishes, including this traditional Sundarban Ilish Utsav specialty!

Enjoy this delightful Ilish Begun-er Jhol with love! 😋🍛