Ilish Pulao Recipe - Bengali Style Hilsa Fish Pilaf

Step 1: To begin making the Ilish Pulao Recipe (Bengali Style Hilsa Fish Pilaf), firstly soak rice for 20 minutes

Step 2: Meanwhile you can cook the hilsa fish

Step 3: Heat 3 tablespoons ghee in deep bottomed kadai and fry chopped onions until onion turns translucent and pale golden in colour

Step 4: Add in ginger, and garlic paste with red chilli powder and fry until the mixture comes together

Step 5: Sprinkle water in between only if required

Step 6: This is known as koshano in Bengali or bhuna in hindi

Step 7: Once the masala is ready, add whisked mishti doi, salt and stir well to mix with the masala

Step 8: Pour half of the coconut milk and stir quickly to incorporate everything

Step 9: Add raw fish pieces into the gravy very carefully in a single layer without overlapping the fish, such that the fish is cooked evenly

Step 10: Add green chili and cook for 4-5 minutes, depending on fish size

Step 11: Flip ilish pieces gently as hilsa is extremely delicate and fragile

Step 12: Add rest of the coconut milk and cook for 10 minutes with cover or until fish is cooked thoroughly

Step 13: Once done keep the fish covered until needed

Step 14: Otherwise the gravy will be dried out

Step 15: Now prepare the rice pulao

Step 16: Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a cast iron biryani pot and add whole garam masala to the hot oil

Step 17: Now add half of the gravy from hilsa along with luke warm water

Step 18: Bring the mixture to a boil

Step 19: Add previously soaked rice into the mixture and let it cook for 10-12 minutes or until rice is almost half cooked

Step 20: Add coconut milk, salt and cook covered for another 10 minutes or till the rice is completely cooked

Step 21: Now arrange the ilish pieces on bed of rice and pour the gravy on it

Step 22: Add green chillies

Step 23: Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes on simmer

Step 24: Once done, remove from flame but keep the Ilish Pulao covered

Step 25: Only remove the lid once ready to serve

Step 26: Serve Ilish Pulao Recipe (Bengali Style Hilsa Fish Pilaf), Tadka Raita Recipe (Spiced Curd With Onions) for lunch and end your meal with Bengali Sita Bhog Recipe