Sunday, April 17, 2016

Bhapa Maach - An aberration could be a discovery. Eureka!



Maach is fish in Bengali and it is just not a food for us, it is an integral part of our life in many ways.
Bhapa means steamed. 
Bhapa maach is a famous authentic Bengali dish where the fish is cooked in steam with its ingredients. It is usually made with the most popular fish of Bengal, Ilish (Hilsa). Well he comes with a big price tag but we Bengalis can pay any price to take him to our kitchen.
I still remember the taste of scrumptious bhapa Ilish my mom used to make. Its been years I had that and all of sudden on the eve of Bengali new year I had this craving for that dish. Since Ilish was not an option here as I do not know where I could get it, I thought to use Salmon instead. And to my surprise the dish really turned awesome. All the fish lovers give it a try and trust me you won't be disappointed.

Ingredients:
  • Salmon                     – 8 pieces(2" length)
  • Ginger                      – ½ inch
  • Green chili               - 5 to 6
  • Mustard Oil               - 3 tsp
  • Milk                          - 2 tsp
  • Turmeric powder      - ½ tsp
  • Mustard powder(traditionally we use yellow mustard seeds by soaking them in water for 30 minutes and then grinding into a paste)   – 2 tsp

Preparation:

1. Clean the fish. Marinate with salt and turmeric powder for 30 mins.
2. Mix the mustard powder, milk and 4 tsp water in a bowl and keep for 30 mins.
3. In the mixing jar put mustard mix, ginger, 2 green chili and prepare a smooth paste.
4. Smear an oven safe flat surfaced bowl with some mustard oil. Put the fish pieces on it in a single layer.
5. Pour the mixture over the fish pieces in order to cover all of them evenly. 
6. Add 3-4 slit green chili. Drizzle 1 tsp mustard oil on top.

7. Cover the bowl with an aluminium foil.
8. Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F.
9. Take a vessel/pan where the bowl can be placed for steaming. Put hot water in the pan and place the bowl on it.
10. Put it in oven and bake for 30 minutes. This is how it looked just out of oven.


11. Serve hot with plain rice.

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