🍽️ Ilish Macher Bhuna – Spicy Stir-fried Hilsa Recipe
“Ilish Macher Bhuna” is an exquisite, spicy Bengali delicacy prepared by stir-frying the iconic Hilsa (Ilish) fish, offering aromatic flavors and a rich, savory experience.
🛒 Ingredients:
🐟 Fresh Hilsa (Ilish) Fish – 6-8 pieces
🌰 Onion – 2 medium-sized (finely chopped)
🍅 Tomato – 1 medium-sized (chopped)
🌶️ Green chilies – 4-5 (slit lengthwise)
🧄 Garlic paste – 1 tsp
🧅 Ginger paste – 1 tsp
🍋 Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
🌶️ Red chili powder – 1 tsp
🍛 Cumin powder – 1 tsp
🍲 Coriander powder – 1 tsp
🍃 Bay leaf – 2 pieces
🧂 Salt – according to taste
🌿 Fresh coriander leaves – handful (chopped)
🍈 Mustard oil – 4 tbsp
🍋 Lemon juice – 1 tsp (optional)
🍳 Cooking Process: 🧑🍳 Step-by-step Instructions: Step 1: 🐟 Preparation
Wash the Hilsa fish pieces thoroughly.
Marinate the fish with turmeric and a little salt for about 15 minutes.
Step 2: 🍲 Initial Frying
Heat mustard oil in a frying pan until smoky, then reduce the flame to medium.
Gently fry the marinated fish pieces for about 2-3 minutes on each side until golden. Remove and set aside.
Step 3: 🍛 Cooking the Bhuna Masala
In the same oil, add bay leaves and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add chopped onions and fry until golden brown.
Next, mix in garlic and ginger paste, sauté for another 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes and green chilies; cook until tomatoes soften.
Step 4: 🌶️ Spice Mixture
Mix turmeric, cumin, coriander, and red chili powders into the pan.
Add salt to taste, sprinkle some water, and cook until the oil separates from the spices.
Step 5: 🔥 Final Stir-Frying
Gently place fried Hilsa fish pieces into the masala.
Stir carefully to coat the fish with the spices evenly.
Cook on low flame for about 5-7 minutes, allowing spices to penetrate the fish.
Step 6: 🌿 Garnishing and Serving
Sprinkle freshly chopped coriander leaves and lemon juice (optional).
Serve hot with steamed rice 🍚 or traditional Bengali pulao.
🥘 Enjoy Your Meal! Dive into the authentic flavors of Bengal and savor the spicy, aromatic taste of Ilish Macher Bhuna . Ideal for special occasions or a delightful weekend feast.
📌 References & Credits: Discover more about the famed Sundarban Hilsa festival Sundarban ilish utsav
Recipe inspired by traditional Bengali cuisine.
🍃 The silence in the Sundarbans is not emptiness—it’s presence! Your Sundarban Tour helps you feel it
... read more bus that was allotted to us for taking us to the boat and we boarded it from Science City. It was a traveller and its was quite spacious and we travelled witout any problem. One thing that need to be looked upon is that there should be a helper with the driver in orderto contact the tourist for boarding the bus. The driver was speaking in his mobile while which can lead to a few problems. 2) Launch/Boat - It was quite big, spacious, the bathrooms were clean and the crews on board are very welll behaved. My 3 year old son really enjoyed the boat ride throughout the journey. 3) Resort - Some maintenance work is required in the rooms of the resort where we stayed at night. Things like ceiling fan regulator was not working, the flush in the wash room was not working and the room are not properly cleaned. It seemed to me that the room where I stayed was cleaned a long time back. 4) Food - The foods that were served to us was very well cooked. They were not at all spicy, not at all stale. Every time we were served hot and fresh foods. They also arranged food for my 3 year old son as per his requirement. 5) Employees/Crews - They are very well behaved, helpfull and always serving us by giving their level best.
20th Millenium KidMarch 17, 2022
... read more members of the group were also very social and supportive. Thanks for gifting a pleasant memory for a long time.
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Sandhya BhideDecember 17, 2022
... read more staff is always up to the mark. Thank you all.
Rupak BhattacharjeeJanuary 17, 2023
... read more team, tour manager Subrata, boat captain Bapi da and our guide Tanmoy da was very cooperative and helpful. Our stay was in Sobuj Deep Resort, the location is next to the river and rooms are quite good in size, there 4 bedrooms can accommodate 2 families with one kid comfortably. The facilities and services of boat and resort was excellent. My objective was to spend some time with family in the nature, and a wild wish if we could spot the graceful royal Bengal tiger in the wild was 100% fulfilled. When I was researching for this tour, I found Sundarbans travel (Sonakshi travel) rated 4.5 among all, and I am not disappointed as well. Next time when I will visit Sundarbans again my choice will be Sundarbans travel. All over experience “The tour is mind blowing”.
Kaustav ChatterjeeMarch 17, 2022
... read more are very well organised to set up this Sunderban tour in terms of fooding lodging and irrespective every things which relates to this particular tour. Me and my family has a mind blowing experience. Thanks Subhabrata Talukdar to you and to your team for giving us a memorable experience.
Sagar BanerjeeJanuary 17, 2023
... read more boat is undercover with green carpet,so it'is looking beautiful,all management are peaceful Jumur dance is wonderful our all member danced with Jumur dancers we are all coming a sweet memories. Thanks to continue Mr Talukder.
Avijit SarkarMarch 17, 2022
... read more people, beautiful presentation of dance and songs to beautiful boat and boatmen with guide. A journey with100% fulfilment. Willing to go again and again. Thanks a lot Sundarban Travel Jyotirmoy Chakraborty Chairman Ispat Cooperative Hospital
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... read more served us very well. Thank you for all your services.
Shaily GuptaMarch 17, 2022
... read more trip of Sundarban ( 3D&2N).The trip was tailor made for our need.The staff members were very courteous & looked after all the nitty gritty to make the trip a memorable one.The food used to be prepared as per our requests & was relished by all members.The night stay arranged in the 5 star resort was superb and in an hospitable atmosphere.The resort has the added feature of being located in a natural surroundings of flora and fauna. It provided attractive play areas for kids. On top of everything, it was pocket friendly & no hidden cost was involved. Would strongly recommend SonakshiTravel for this riverine trip.
Arun BiswasJanuary 17, 2023
... read more boat as well as car was also good. We thank you very much and want to refer in future to our friends n relatives.
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Dr. Sikka & associatesJanuary 17, 2023
... read more tour confirmation 7/10. I paid advance for booking after checking the availability. But after making the payment, I was informed the required dates are not available and I had to change my dates. Communication of programs are also not up to the mark. 2. Transfer from Kolkata to Gadkhali & Return 8/10. Onward journey driver was new and not carrying proper documents for Vehicle. Stuck at Ghatakpukur for more than 30 minutes in a police checking. Return journey was better but the vehicle given was too old. 3. Boat Arrangements from Gadkhali 10/10. Good & comfortable. Well decorated boat with well behaved staffs. 4. Accommodation 10/10. Very good place selection and enjoyed the staying. This point you will get a bonus point. 5. Food 8/10. First day lunch was awesome but next meals were just below par. Lacking variety. I came to know few other agencies are offering more variants in their service. Finally thanks to all your staffs in the boat and in the hotel. Specially mentioning Tapas, Bapi, your cook and Subrata for their service.
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prabhat kumar banerjeeSeptember 17, 2022
... read more family including senior citizens and kids and had a nice experience. Thank you Mr. Talukdar and team.
Koushik PandaApril 17, 2022
... read more cottage were excellent. Subrat dada was extremely well informed about the forests. His knowledge helped us a lot. Extremely grateful🙏
Shradha Suman SatpathyMarch 17, 2022
... read more staff. Just one regret with the govt to allow more routes inside core jungle to increase footfall at Sunderbans. All you can see is Deer. However i would surely visit again.
navin jayaramanMarch 17, 2022
... read more people. The jungle visit was great and we could see so many animals
Kunal BasuMarch 17, 2022
... read more with Mr.Suvabrata Talukder.We were 13 heads (including 3 senior citizen and 2 child of 5 years old).It was a programme from Howrah to Howrah (railway station). Yesterday (13th November 2021) we returned from our trip. Overall experience was awesome.Communication with Mr. Talukder over phone before journey came in reality through the entire tour in every respect. Manager Subrata and other staff of boat along with the staff of the resort was very helpful and polite . Behaviour of the staff was very good. Food quality was really good .Not to much spicy but tasty , quantity was sufficient.The resort we stayed (Sabujdieep) was good /clean/safe and a small walking from jetty where we dropped from boat.One evening we enjoyed tribal music and dance in the resort. We along with my co- travellers enjoyed the tour with amazing experience ,kept beautiful moments and memories for life time with us. Everything was perfect. Arrangements in every angle was Wonderful. I strongly suggest and recommend everyone to enjoy your tour with this Sonakshi Travel (Sonarpur).
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