Bangladesh
Photo: রিজওয়ান আহমেদ, CC BY-SA 4.0, croppedShorshe ilish
সর্ষে ইলিশ
/ʃɔɾʃe iliʃ/SHOR-sheh EE-lish
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- When
- Lunch & dinnerFestive
- Taste
- SpicySavory
- Made with
- Fish
History
Ilish, or hilsa, is a shad that swims up the great rivers of Bengal from the sea to spawn in the monsoon, and it is the national fish of Bangladesh. Shorshe ilish is ilish cooked in a sharp sauce of ground mustard seeds, mustard oil, green chillies and turmeric, sometimes steamed in a covered dish or in banana leaves. Bengalis have praised the fish in songs, poetry and cooking for centuries, and families argue over whether fish from the Padma river is the best. The fish has many fine bones, and eating it slowly is part of the meal. Its catch is limited in breeding seasons to protect stocks.
Sources
