How to make ilish maachh bhaja with Ilish maachher tel – recipe with photos

White rice with ilish maachh bhaja and its flavourful ilish maachher tel is one of my most favourite dishes. Ilish maachh bhaja is most Bengalis especially the Ilish maach (hilsa fish) lovers common favorite dish, right? This simple hilsa fish fry does not need to be introduced to a Bengali, especially people from West Bengal or Bangladesh. 

About Ilish maachh bhaja

Ilish maachh bhaja is nothing but salt & turmeric marinated hilsa fish fried in mustard oil. Ilish mach is hilsa fish and bhaja means frying. So in one-word hilsa fish fry is actually ilish mach bhaja. Whereas, Ilish maachher tel is all about the fat of hilsa fish, which is released while frying in oil. As macher (mach er) tel represents fish fat or oil. Bengali Relish both with gorom bhat or maach bhaja with khichuri (niramish muger daler khichuri or patla musur daler khichuri) especially on rainy days. A simple yet most satisfying food from Bengal.

You must be thinking, Ilish maachh bhaja is so simple to prepare why do I need to post this recipe? This recipe is only for beginners and bachelors who the first time going to fry fish especially hilsa with their own.

Here I describe the all tips and tricks on how easy to fry Ilish maachh without sticking to the pan. Even how beginners can prevent themselves from the spluttering of oil while frying this fish.

How to choose the best ilish maachh from the market?

As per my Dad, to choose the best ilish maachh, along with seeing its silver glittering shine all over the body must check its belly with a light pinkish color. As shown in the pic below. Though experts like Bengali Dads can easily recognize whether the ilish belongs to Kolkaghat, Diamond Harbour, or Howrah Ganga. Even just look at the fish’s shape & texture. However, still, I do not have a clear knowledge of whether the hilsa belongs to, even from river or sea. As in Bangalore, ilish from Gujrat & Mangalore sea also captures fish market due to high demand & huge cost. Tastewise is just so bad no matter how big the fish is. Even tasted Podda’r ilish (claimed Imported from Bangladesh) too, comes with a sealed packet and sticker, more expensive but the taste was not as great as expected.

Later consulted with Dad & he said, must take ilish having a flat body, as hilsa with a flat belly is best at the taste. Dad’s expert tips for ilish with a flat pinkish belly work best. Though as big the hilsa is considered best in taste at least 1 kg weight. Must buy at least more than 600 – 650 g weight of ilish for better taste. Less weighty fish must have lots of small bones and the taste would not be great if you are not too lucky.

Though ilisher dim (hilsa eggs) taste awesome. However, expert says, that fish carrying eggs lose its taste. So if do not want fish eggs then check the fish belly whether it is flat means no eggs but a little swollen stomach means carrying eggs. However, an experienced fish seller also can help you to select eggless fish.

After buying the fish, instruct the fish seller or fishmonger to cut the fish into ring pieces or round slices or steaks if not too big in size, and have eggs in the belly. If you are staying out of Bengal, especially in Bangalore, go for bengali cut (Fish in ring cut).

Whether it is a rainy season (best time to have Ilish maachh in the Bengali fish market) or Ranna puja occasion and you are staying far away from your home. Missing those rainy days or ranna puja occasions, family lunch or dinner with Ilish maachh bhaja. But never cook anything on your own but planning to fry Ilish maachh for the first time. Then my step-by-step recipe (with pictures) surely helps you to perfectly fry the fish.

You can try my other Ilish maachher recipes

Ilish Maacher Paturi

Bhapa Ilish (Steamed hilsa)

Shorshe Ilish (fish in mustard sauce gravy)

Doi Ilish (fish in yogurt based curry)

Ilish Maacher Biryani

Ilish Maacher Patla Jhol (begun r Kalo jeera bata diye)

How to make Ilish maachh bhaja with Ilish maachher tel

How to clean & wash ilish maach

• Before frying the ilish maach, first, wash the fish pieces/steaks/slices.
• By taking the fish pieces in a bowl, add 2- 3 cups of water, and gently remove the fish scales if still remain. Don’t wash under running water, can lose its flavor & taste.
• Remove the water and wash the fish with another 2-3 cups of water and completely discard the water.
• Make sure no water is remaining with the fish.

How to fry Ilish maach

• Then smear the fish steaks with 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp turmeric powder and mix it well, keep it aside for marination.

• Heat a pan (iron korai or nonstick pan preferably for beginners & bachelors) first on medium heat until the pan releases smoke or gets enough hot.
• Then add mustard oil to the pan and with a spatula spread the oil on the sides of the pan (especially for iron pan).
• Once the oil release smoke or bubbles on oil disappears, one by one leave the fish (salt & turmeric powder marinated fish pieces) into the oil.

• But do not overcrowd the pan. If you are frying the fish for the first time, then better to put only 1 or 2 pieces in oil by keeping some space between the pieces.
• After 5-6 mins of frying, gently turn the fish with a spatula and fry the opposite side for again 5-6 mins.
• Once the fish is golden from both sides, that means maachh bhaja is done, remove the fish from the pan.
• If you need to fry the fish until golden brown then keep it for 1-2 more mins in the pan.
• But do not fry the fish for a long time that can make the fish hard and will spoil its taste.

• After frying the ilish maachh, the leftover oil in the pan is Ilish maachher tel (released by Ilish maachh while frying in oil).

• Ilish maachh bhaja & ilish maachher tel both are ready, just make white rice and relish in lunch or dinner, especially on Sunday. Even relish the maachh bhaja with khichuri (niramish muger daler khichuri or patla musur daler khichuri).

Storing Suggestions

You can store this bhaja ilish maach and ilish maacher tel in the refrigerator in an airtight food-grade container. When planing to eat, take it out from the fridge, and make it hot in the microwave oven for 30 secs to 1 min. Or Shallow fry on medium heat (gas stove) for 1-2 mins to keep it soft and tasty as before.