Steamed Fish Recipe

FISH PATURI or PATRANI MACCHI or STEAMED FISH WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAF

(BHETKI MACHER PATURI-Bengali Style)

Cooking time: 30 minutes                                                                               Serves:8 

INGREDIENTS:

1. Fish fillets (Bhetki/Basa/Snapper-any fish of your choice)
2. White mustard seeds (sarson/sarshe)
3. Poppy seeds (posto/khaskhas)
4. Fresh coconut paste
5. Whole green chillies
6. Turmeric powder
7. Red chilli powder
8. Salt
9. Sugar
10. Mustard oil
11. Banana leaf cut in rectangle or squares (12inch by 12inch) or aluminium foil
12. Thread

METHOD:

1. Take 4 tablespoons of  White mustard seeds and same amount of Poppy seeds along with 2 whole green chillies in a mixer grinder. Blend everything until a smooth paste is formed. 
2. In a mixing bowl add 4 tablespoons of this masala paste (mustard, poppy, green chillies), 4 tablespoons of coconut paste, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder, salt according to taste, just a pinch of sugar (optional), 4 tablespoons of mustard oil. Mix everything really well with a spoon. Add 2-3 tablespoons of water amd mix.
3. Add 8 fish fillets in this mixture. Coat all the pieces properly with the paste and marinate for 10-15 minutes.
4. Take a banana leaf that is cut into a square measuring 12 inch by 12 inch (based on the size of the fish fillet). Add a piece of the marinated fish on top of the banana leaf and add some of the masala paste on the fish. On top of the fish add a whole green chilli and 1 teaspoon of mustard oil. Wrap the banana leaf around the fish like a parcel and tie the leaf  properly with a thread. 
5. Steam the banana fish parcels in a steamer for 10 minutes.
6. Serve the Fish paturi with hot steamed rice. Bon Appetite!! 

NOTE:

1. Take any fish of your choice. But preferably take fish fillets that is boneless fish. 
2. Mustard oil is very important for making Bengali style fish paturi.
3. The traditional method is to warp the fishes in banana leaf. The banana leaf adds a great flavor to the fish. However if you can't get banana leaf use aluminium foil.
4. The fishes can be steamed in a momo steamer, idly steamer or oven.