🍢 Hilsa Fish Kebab – A Royal Bengali Delicacy 🐟🔥

A delightful twist on the traditional Hilsa, Hilsa Fish Kebab is a smoky, spiced, and melt-in-the-mouth delicacy that brings out the rich flavors of the Queen of Fish – Ilish! Perfect for festive occasions like the Sundarban Hilsa Festival, this dish is an irresistible treat for seafood lovers.

🛒 Ingredients

For the Hilsa Kebab Mixture:

✔ Hilsa Fish (Ilish Mach) – Boneless, Steamed & Mashed – 250g
✔ Boiled Potatoes (Mashed) – 1 large
✔ Onion (Finely Chopped) – 2 tbsp
✔ Green Chilies (Finely Chopped) – 2
✔ Ginger-Garlic Paste – 1 tsp
✔ Roasted Gram Flour (Besan) / Bread Crumbs – 2 tbsp
✔ Lemon Juice – 1 tsp
✔ Coriander Leaves (Chopped) – 2 tbsp
✔ Garam Masala Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Red Chili Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
✔ Salt – To taste
✔ Mustard Oil – 2 tbsp

For Coating & Grilling:

✔ Egg (Beaten) – 1
✔ Bread Crumbs – ½ cup
✔ Mustard Oil – For grilling

👩‍🍳 Cooking Process

1️⃣ Preparing the Hilsa Fish

1️⃣ Steam or lightly fry Hilsa pieces, then carefully remove all bones.
2️⃣ Mash the fish finely and keep it aside.

2️⃣ Making the Kebab Mixture

1️⃣ In a bowl, mix mashed Hilsa, boiled mashed potatoes, onions, and green chilies.
2️⃣ Add ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, red chili powder, turmeric, salt, lemon juice, and coriander leaves.
3️⃣ Mix well and add roasted gram flour or breadcrumbs to bind the mixture.

3️⃣ Shaping & Coating

1️⃣ Take a small portion and shape it into kebabs (round or cylindrical).
2️⃣ Dip each kebab into beaten egg and coat with breadcrumbs.

4️⃣ Grilling / Frying

1️⃣ Heat a pan or tandoor with mustard oil.
2️⃣ Place the kebabs and grill until golden brown and slightly crispy.
3️⃣ For extra smokiness, you can char-grill them over an open flame.

🍽️ Serving Suggestions

✅ Serve hot with mustard sauce (kasundi), onion rings, and lemon wedges! 🍋
✅ Best paired with mint chutney or a side of fragrant Basmati rice.

📌 Footnote:

Experience the royal flavors of Hilsa at the Sundarban Hilsa Festival, also called Sundarban Ilish Utsav, where you can relish exclusive Hilsa delicacies in the lap of nature!

Bon Appétit! 🍢🔥😋