🐟 Hilsa Fish Fingers – Crispy & Flavorful Delight! 🍤✨

A unique and delicious twist on the traditional Hilsa fish! These Hilsa Fish Fingers are crispy on the outside and tender inside, perfect as an appetizer or snack. If you love Hilsa, this dish is a must-try, especially during the Sundarban Hilsa Festival!

🛒 Ingredients

For the Marination:

✔ Hilsa Fish Fillet – 300g (boneless, cut into strips)
✔ Lemon Juice – 1 tbsp
✔ Ginger-Garlic Paste – 1 tsp
✔ Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Red Chili Powder – 1 tsp
✔ Salt – To taste
✔ Mustard Oil – 1 tbsp

For the Coating:

✔ All-Purpose Flour (Maida) – ½ cup
✔ Cornflour – ¼ cup
✔ Egg (beaten) – 1
✔ Breadcrumbs (for coating) – 1 cup
✔ Black Pepper Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Salt – ¼ tsp

For Frying:

✔ Mustard Oil / Vegetable Oil – As needed

👩‍🍳 Cooking Process

1️⃣ Marinating the Hilsa Fish

1️⃣ Clean the Hilsa fillets and pat them dry.
2️⃣ Cut them into finger-sized strips.
3️⃣ In a bowl, mix lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, salt, and mustard oil.
4️⃣ Coat the fish strips with this marinade and let them rest for 30 minutes.

2️⃣ Preparing the Coating

1️⃣ In a bowl, mix flour, cornflour, black pepper powder, and salt.
2️⃣ In another bowl, beat the egg.
3️⃣ Keep breadcrumbs in a separate plate.

3️⃣ Coating the Fish Fingers

1️⃣ Take each marinated fish strip, coat it in the flour mixture.
2️⃣ Dip it into the beaten egg.
3️⃣ Roll it in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure a crisp coating.
4️⃣ Repeat for all fish fingers.

4️⃣ Frying the Fish Fingers

1️⃣ Heat mustard oil or vegetable oil in a deep pan over medium heat.
2️⃣ Fry the fish fingers in batches until golden brown & crispy.
3️⃣ Remove and place them on a paper towel to drain excess oil.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

✅ Serve hot with kasundi (Bengali mustard sauce), tartar sauce, or tomato ketchup! 🍽️🔥
✅ Pair with a refreshing lemon drink for a complete snack experience.

📌 Footnote:

This dish is a modern take on Hilsa, a specialty at the Sundarban Hilsa Festival, also known as Sundarban Ilish Utsav. Enjoy the rich flavors of Hilsa in a crispy, snackable form! 😋

Happy Cooking! 🍤💛