🍽️ Ilish Macher Chorchori – Mixed Vegetable and Hilsa Stir Fry 🍽️

(A traditional Bengali delicacy combining flavorful Hilsa fish with fresh seasonal vegetables.)

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🥘 Ingredients:

For Fish & Vegetables:

• 🐟 Hilsa fish (Ilish Mach) – 6-8 pieces (cleaned, washed)
• 🥔 Potato – 2 medium-sized, peeled & cubed
• 🍆 Eggplant (Brinjal) – 1 medium, cubed
• 🎃 Pumpkin – 100 gm, cubed
• 🥕 Carrot – 1 medium, sliced
• 🌶️ Green chilies – 3-4 (slit)
• 🥦 Cauliflower – 6-8 florets (optional)
• 🍅 Tomato – 1 medium-sized, chopped
• 🌿 Fresh coriander leaves – 2 tbsp, finely chopped

Spices & Seasoning:

• 🧂 Salt – to taste
• 🌶️ Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• 🥥 Mustard oil – 4 tbsp
• 🍃 Bay leaf – 1
• 🌱 Panch phoron (five-spice mix) – ½ tsp
• 🧅 Onion – 1 medium-sized, sliced thinly
• 🧄 Garlic paste – 1 tsp
• 🫚 Ginger paste – 1 tsp
• 🍋 Lemon juice – 1 tsp (optional)

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👩‍🍳 Cooking Process:

Step 1: Preparation of Fish 🐟

• Marinate Hilsa fish pieces with turmeric and salt. Set aside for 10-15 mins.

Step 2: Frying the Fish 🥘

• Heat mustard oil in a pan until smoky; reduce flame.
• Gently fry the Hilsa fish pieces until golden brown. Remove carefully and keep aside.

Step 3: Cooking Vegetables 🥦🥕🍆

• In the same pan, add bay leaf and panch phoron; allow them to splutter.
• Add onion slices, sauté until golden.
• Add ginger and garlic paste, fry till aroma releases.
• Add potatoes, eggplant, carrots, pumpkin, cauliflower, green chilies, turmeric, and salt. Stir and sauté vegetables for 5-6 mins.

Step 4: Combining & Cooking the Chorchori 🍲

• Add chopped tomatoes, mix well, and cook covered on low heat until vegetables soften.
• Add fried Hilsa fish carefully into the vegetables, sprinkle little water if required.
• Cook gently for another 8-10 minutes until flavors blend nicely. Avoid stirring vigorously to maintain the fish pieces intact.

Step 5: Final Touch ✨

• Finish with chopped coriander leaves and a squeeze of lemon juice (optional).
• Turn off heat and let rest for 5 minutes.

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🍛 Serving Suggestions:

Serve hot with steamed basmati rice or traditional Bengali mishti pulao, garnished with fresh coriander and green chilies.

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🌟 Reference & Credit: Celebrate the deliciousness of Hilsa fish at the upcoming Sundarban Hilsa festival (also known as “Sundarban ilish utsav”), an event dedicated to the iconic Hilsa of Sundarban, featuring diverse culinary delights and cultural festivities!