Kumro Patai Ilish Paturi(Marinated Hilsa Shad fish in Pumpkin Leaves)

During four days of Durga Puja, Astomi is a very important day. We took fast on the morning of Astomi and worship Goddess Durga by giving Puspanjali. Besides Astomi was the day when we took a brunch with Bengali foods, especially fish item. Some people took vegetarian food that day. But in my dad house and in my husband's  family don't have such rules. We are foodies even my family members don't like vegetarian item. Ilish is my favorite fish and in my dad house we don't eat hilsa fish after Dashami and before Saraswati Puja. So it is must that in Astomi brunch there will be Hilsa shad/ Ilish.

My Grandma(mom's mom) used to cook paturi very well. I cherished the taste of paturi made by her hand. This year I tried her recipe Ilish/Hilsa Shad paturi in Pumpkin leaves. Hilsa fish marinated with mustard and other spices, then wrapped in pumpkin leaves then finally wrapped by banana leaves and shallow steam fry in skillet. The banana leaves get burnt while frying but the fish is intact and steam cooked with marination and pumpkin leaves. It's a another Bengali delicacy.

Serves - 2/4

Preparation time - 30 minutes

Cooking time - 20 minutes

Ingredients:-

3/4 piece hilsa shad/ Ilish fish

8 pumpkin leaves(washed)

2/4 large banana leaves

1 tbsp yellow mustard seeds paste

1 tsp black mustard seeds paste

1 tsp poppy seeds paste

 5 tbsp mustard oil

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp green chili paste

4 green chilies

Salt for seasoning

Method:-

Rub the clean fish pieces with salt and turmeric powder. Keep marinated for 30 minutes.

Hilsa fish marinated with turmeric
and salt

In a bowl add black and yellow mustard seeds paste, poppy seeds paste,green chili paste,salt  and 1 tbsp of oil. Mix it very well.In this mixture dip Hilsa shad/ ilish pieces.

Paste of spices

Take two pumpkin leaves for 1 fish piece. Now take 1 fish piece along with 1 tbsp of marination and place it on over 2 pumpkin leaves.

Placing fish on pumpkin leaves

Pumpkin  leaves

Folding

Fold the pumpkin leaves. Take a banana leaves then place folded pumpkin leaves on it,add 1 green chili and 1 tsp of mustard oil on it. Wrap the banana leaves and secure it with string. Do same with all fish pieces.

Fish folded with pumpkin leaves

Finally wrapped by banana leaves

In a skillet or shallow frying pan heat 2 tbsp of mustard oil. Add banana leaves packet on it. Fry in medium heat for 10 minutes, cover the lid then flip it up and fry for another 10 minutes. Take it out in a serving plate.

Banana leaves packet for frying

Cooked paturi

Open banana leaves packet when you are ready to serve. Serve hot with plain steamed rice and enjoy another Bengali delicacy.

Cooked hilsa fish on pumpkin leaves

Serve with steamed hot rice

Happy Cooking:)