Life in Mumbai was great for many many reasons. The most important for a foodie like Roshan and me was the amazing number of restaurants that kept sprouting in the area we lived in. Every weekend we made plans of dinner and a movie. This was before our son was born and then after a short break we tagged him along for every movie that was suitable for kids and every restaurant that was child friendly (well, most restaurants in Mumbai are equipped with baby chairs and staff that can handle broken cutlery and a wailing child)
Bhapa Maach (Bengali Style Steamed Fish in Mustard Sauce)
Prep time: 30 mins | Steaming time: 20 mins | Serves 2
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of fish (preferably Hilsa) * see notes
- 1 tablespoon of black mustard
- 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard
- 3-4 green chilies (if required deseeded) slit
- 2 tablespoons of coconut (coarsely ground)
- 2 tablespoons of thick coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons of oil (preferably mustard oil)
Method:
1. Wash the fish, drain on a colander and then marinate it with a little salt and turmeric powder for about 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile soak the black and yellow mustard in a little water for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes grind the soaked mustard along with 1 green chili, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and a little salt to a fine paste.
3. Mix the paste with the coarsely ground coconut and the coconut milk. Bring some water to a boil in a idli steamer.
4. Place the marinated fish in a steel tiffin box in a single layer (not one on top of the other), pour the ground paste and coconut milk mixture over the fish, add the remaining green chilies, drizzle some oil and close the lid of the box.
5. Place the box in the idli steamer and steam for about 15 minutes. Alternatively you may even bake in the fish in a preheated oven at 200 degrees C for about 15-18 minutes.
6. Remove from the steamer (or oven if used) and serve with steaming hot rice.
Notes:
1. Hilsa is the much loved seasonal fish that every fish eating Bengali loves. It is pretty expensive when it is in season so you can substitute with any fish preferably white boneless. Try white pomfret or basa. But since Hilsa fish is traditionally used for this curry, it would be great if you could try the dish with the same fish.
Delicious and lovely looking bhapa illish.
Deepa
do you have a stove top method for this, instead of steaming?
Coconut milk isnot used by us.after grinding mustard..add the coconut in the mixie and grind it again
The coconut milk was used only to mask the strong flavour of the fish. This is a twist we gave to the recipe
Use a double boiler method to steam ..if you do stove top then the mustard paste gives another flavour..which also we do. But then that is not bhapa
I always steam the fish curry and don’t cook it on stove top. The alternative I have given is only for those who wish to bake instead of steam
One can steam it in stove or gas alternatively with a pan filled with water
@ A Berean: I have never tried the stove top method. This is traditionally a steamed dish. You can bake it alternatively.
can i skip the coconut milk?
@ A Berean: If you make changes to the above recipe I am not sure it will taste good. Infact it will cease to be Bhapa Maach and will turn into something else so it's your choice 🙂
Delicious fish recipe, enjoyed making and eating it.
@ Vanita: Happy to hear that! We made it again today and enjoyed it as well 🙂
If you don’t have a sealed container, you can make a heavy duty aluminum foil pouch and then use it in a steamer. I have a moktu, but you can use an idli steamer, a rice cooker in steam position, InstaPot in steaming position or just a deep pan with a lid.
Hi Pee Gee,
Thanks a lot for those useful suggestions!!