Ilish - Begun ar Tel Jhol/Hilsa Curry with Eggplants...

Food is not just a mean to satisfy our hunger, rather it serves as an art characterised by distinct techniques with a mix of specific culture. Various factors like local ingredients, traditions, and customs get involve in the process to create a unique dish. Therefore here I present before you a very popular recipe of the Bengali households- "Ilish - Begun ar Tel Jhol", prepared to relieve all from the daily toil of excavating some distinct cuisine at the dinner table to please your taste buds. This is a very nostalgic recipe of my grandmother who used to spoil me with these delicacies. Let's try our hands on this special recipe today.

Ilish - Begun ar Tel Jhol/Hilsa Curry with Eggplants...                  

Ingredients-

Ilish/Hilsa Fish - 6 pieces                       
Potato - 2 medium sized (Cut into wedges.)

Begun/Eggplant - 1 medium sized (Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise, then cut into narrow wedges about 1 inch thick. Wash and keep aside.)

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp                               
Red Chilli powder - 1 tsp 

Salt and Sugar as per taste.

Mustard oil

Nigella seeds/Kalo jeera/Kalonji - 1/2 tsp

Few slit Green Chillies

A handful of chopped Coriander Leaves for garneshing.

Method-

Rub salt and a 1/2 tsp of turmeric powder on the freshly washed pieces of Ilish.

Heat 1/2 cup oil in a kadai/deep frying pan and shallow fry the fish pieces.

Remove and keep aside.

In the remaining oil (5-6 tbsp oil should be there in the kadai, otherwise add some more oil), temper with nigella seeds, add the eggplants and the potato wedges, fry them for 2 minutes. Now add ¾ tsp turmeric powder and red chilli powder. Mix well and fry on medium flame for one minute. Add 1 cup of water, green chillies, salt and sugar. Mix. Cover and give this a quick boil on high flame. Now add the fish pieces. Cover and cook for 15 minutes on low flame. Your Ilish Begun ar Tel Jhol/Hilsa Curry with Eggplant is ready. Garnish with some freshly chopped coriander leaves (optional). Serve hot with steamed rice.

Please do try this recipe at your home and let me know how it was in the comments section below. Also do share and follow me for more such easy, tasty and delightful recipes. Thank you. Enjoy.