Main Course · Dinner · Asian ·

Bhapa Ilish (Steamed Hilsa)

Name: Bhapa Ilish (Steamed Hilsa)
Prep time: 27 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 107 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 4 pieces of Hilsa fish; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon turmeric powder; 4 tablespoons mustard seeds; 2 tablespoons poppy seeds; 4 green chilies; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons mustard oil; 4 tablespoons water; 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves; 2 green chilies, slit

Bhapa Ilish is a classic Bengali dish featuring Hilsa fish steam-cooked with mustard paste and green chilies, delivering a rich, aromatic flavor profile.

4.5(608 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 2, 2025

Bhapa Ilish (Steamed Hilsa) — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

27 min

Cook

1 h 20 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Fish Marinade

For the Mustard Paste

For the Steaming Sauce

For the Garnishing

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 316 kcal
Protein: 24.35 g
Carbs: 8.03 g
Fat: 21.58 g
Fiber: 4.85 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1265 kcal
Protein: 97.4 g
Carbs: 32.1 g
Fat: 86.3 g
Fiber: 19.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
4 pieces of Hilsa fish	600	80	0	30	0
1 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon turmeric powder	16	0.5	3	0	1
4 tablespoons mustard seeds	196	10	11	15	8
2 tablespoons poppy seeds	180	6	12	13	8
4 green chilies	16	0.5	4	0.2	1.5
1 teaspoon salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tablespoons mustard oil	248	0	0	28	0
4 tablespoons water	0	0	0	0	0
1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves	1	0.1	0.1	0	0.1
2 green chilies, slit	8	0.3	2	0.1	0.8

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Fish

1
Rub and Season
Rub the Hilsa pieces with salt and turmeric powder.
2
Rest
Allow marinating for at least 30 minutes.
3
Rinse
Rinse the fish gently to remove excess salt while retaining some marinade.

Preparing the Mustard Paste

1
Soak Seeds
Soak mustard and poppy seeds in warm water for 20 minutes.
2
Grind Paste
Grind the soaked seeds and green chilies into a smooth paste.
3
Season
Mix salt into the paste, adjusting the consistency with water if necessary.
Tip: Do not overblend the mustard to avoid bitterness. Use a little mustard oil while grinding to enhance the aroma.

How to Make Bhapa Ilish (Steamed Hilsa)

Total time: 1 h 47 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Steaming Preparation
Arrange the marinated fish in a steaming dish.
2
Blend Integration
Combine mustard paste with mustard oil and water, then pour over the fish evenly.
3
Final Cooking
Steam the fish over medium heat for 25-30 minutes until cooked through.