Today is Eid-Al-Fitr, the day which marks the end of the holy month of Ramdan, a day synonymous with happiness, cheer, sharing and of course lavish and decadent feasts.
And with a gorgeous overcast sky and a lazy desultory drizzle all morning, I could not resist the temptation of cooking my Ilish Biryani for today’s lunch.
Eid Mubarak friends!!
Ilish (Hilsa) Biryani
Ilish Biryani, a delectable symphony of the fragrant basmati rice and the pompous Hilsa. Perfumed with cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Food heaven !!!
Ingredients
- 3 - 4 Ilish pieces (Hilsa steaks)
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 tbsps yoghurt whipped
- 3 tbsps Fried onion
- 3 tbsps onion paste
- 2 tsps ginger paste
- 1 tsp kashmiri chili powder
- 2 tsps turmeric powder
- 2 green cardamom
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 1 black cardamom
- 2 - 3 bay leaves
- 5 - 6 green chillies slit
- 4 tbsps mustard oil
- 1 tbsp ghee
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash and soak the rice in water for 20minutes. Boil enough water and cook the rice with 1 tsp salt and 2 tsp oil till ~70% cooked. Drain water and transfer the rice to a flat plate. Keep aside.
- Clean and wash the fish. Marinate with salt and turmeric. Heat 2 tbsps of oil in a pan, fry the fish steaks till golden. Keep aside.
- Add the rest of the oil to the same pan, throw in the green and black cardamom, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and green chillies and cook till the spices release their aroma. Stir in the onion paste and ginger paste and cook on a medium flame till they release oil. Now carefully fold the whipped yoghurt and sprinkle the red chili powder and salt. Continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes. Take the masala off the flame and allow to cool.
- Take about a quarter of the cooked masala and smear well over the fried fish. Keep aside.
- Now it is time to assemble the biriyani. Grease the bottom of the pan with a little ghee, add a layer of rice and spread some of the cooked masala and fried onions over the rice gently. Place the masala marinated fried fish, another layer of rice and another layer of cooked masala and fried onions. Splash just a little hot water and cover the pan tightly.
- Cook over a low flame for 10-12 minutes. Give it a standing time of another 10 odd minutes, toss gently and serve hot.
How many kilos of fish is reqd to make this recipe
Just 3-4 pieces for the quantity I have used in my recipe. Say, 250-400 grams of Ilish steaks.
Perfect eidde for Eid :)… though I am not a bengali but truly love Hilsa. Thank you
Really can’t resist. Drooling