Bengali food and its love affair with fish curry is not surprising given the abundant freshwater rivers and Bay of Bengal that flow through the state and provide ample supplies. The preparation of fish curry is a part of Bengali tradition and culture. Any grand festive celebrations or special occasions need fish recipes. Fish is a Bengal staple and part of their daily meal. To explore the best fish curry recipes, you should visit Aheli, 6 Bally gunge Place, Bhojohori Manna, Oh Calcutta, Kasturi, and many more in Kolkata.
1. Bhapa Ilish
Ilish Bhapa, also known as Shorshe Ilish Bhapa means steamed mustard Hilsa. It is a classic Bengali Hilsa fish preparation that consists of heating the fish in mustard paste, coconut paste, doi (yogurt), mustard oil, and green chilies. We garnish the curry with mustard oil and green chili and serve it with rice. You must try this dish at 6 Ballygunge Place, Aheli, Oh Calcutta.
2. Doi Katla
Doi Katla or Doi Mach curry is a traditional Bengal recipe. This curry is easy to prepare. Katla fish pieces cooked in a rich and thick creamy gravy made of doi, ginger-garlic-onion paste, cashew nuts, and home spices. If you want, you can add fresh coriander leaves. It tastes delicious with Rice or Pulao. Best Doi Katla you should try at Kasturi, Aheli, or any local Bengali restaurants in Kolkata.
3. Pomfret Curry
Pomfret is a seawater fish. A delicious Pomfret fish curry made in Bengali style tastes heaven when paired with steamed rice. Lemon juice-coated marinated Pomfrets cooked with ginger-garlic-onion paste, home spices, and chilies. We garnish the curry with fresh coriander leaves. Here you will get the best Pomfret curry at Aheli or Bhojohori Manna.
4. Shorshe Pabda
This recipe is a traditional West Bengal and Bangladesh dish. Pabda fish is Indian butter catfish. The spicy curry preparation includes fried Pabda cooked in mustard oil, Mustard paste, nigella seeds, green chili, and tomato (optional). Mostly with hot steamed rice Shorshe Pabda tastes delicious. Try this curry at Kasturi, Sonar Tori, or Oh Calcutta in Kolkata.
5. Daab Chingri
Daab Chingri is a very creamy, flavourful dish. It is popular during Bengali New Year. The preparation of Daab Chingri completes inside a Coconut shell. Fresh marinated prawns cooked with tender coconut paste, garlic-onion paste, turmeric, and green chilies. This dish goes well with Pulao. Oh, Calcutta serves the best Daab Chingri in Kolkata.
6. Chital Macher Muitha
It is an authentic Bengali fish curry recipe famous in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The dish is spicy, rich in taste, and tastes like heaven with steamed rice. Fried Chital fish fillets cooked with onion-ginger-tomato paste, green chilies, and coriander leaves. It takes time and effort to make the curry. The Bhoj Company, Koshe Kosha, or Aheli all serve this dish.
7. Mourala Macher Chorchori
It is an old Bengali dish cooked with small fish. Mourala Macher Chorchori is a perfectly balanced dish with vegetables and small fish (good for vision). Fried Mourala fishes cooked with small pieces of pumpkin (kumro), eggplant (begun), ridge gourd (jhinga), potatoes, onions, garlic, and home spices. Hot piping rice and Mouralar Chorchori tastes heaven. Try this curry at Kasturi or Bhojohori Manna.
8. Bhetki Paturi
Bhetki Paturi is a Bengali-style Barramundi fish cooked by wrapping it in banana leaves. The cooking process includes marination. Bhetki fillets coated with mustard paste, green chili, mustard oil, and poppy seeds. After keeping it for 3-4 long hours, wrapping it into banana leaves Bhetki fillets cooking starts on medium heat. It goes well with steamed rice. Any Bengali restaurants serve Bhetki Paturi in Kolkata.
9. Lote Macher Jhuri
It is a flavourful curry that gives you a strong, roasted, or burnt aroma. The Bombay Duck Keema and Lote Macher Jhuri are almost similar. During the cooking process, Lote Mach goes into the thick paste of onion, ginger, garlic, tomato, green chilies, coriander leaves, and regular masalas. The fish is very soft. The flesh comes out of the bones easily and gives the curry a proper texture. This curry tastes delicious with rice. Try out this recipe at Aheli or Kasturi.
10. Tel Koi
Tel Koi is a delicious and dear fish curry recipe for Bengali people. A lot of mustard oil needs for this dish. Lightly fried Koi fish cooked with a thick paste of cumin seeds, green chili, ginger paste, and red chili give a dark-colored curry. This spicy fish curry only goes well with hot steamed rice. 6 Ballygunge Place, Aheli, and Koshe Kosha in Kolkata have great Tel Koi dishes.
11. Rui Macher Jhol
Jhol means gravy. It is a simple, not spicy, and a favorite home-cooked fish curry recipe. It is a lightweight fish and very easy to prepare. The preparation process includes fried Rui or Rohu fish, small pieces of potato, cauliflower (optional), papaya (pepe), green chili, cumin seeds, and home spices. This curry goes well with rice. In Kolkata, in every Bengali restaurant, you will find Rui Macher Jhol served with rice.
12. Parshe Macher Jhal
It is an insanely delicious and easy-to-cook recipe. Fried fresh Parshe fish, pieces of brinjal, and bori (sun-baked lentil dumplings) cooked with mustard seeds, nigella seeds, and green chili in mustard oil. This curry is simple yet rich in taste. Try this recipe with hot steamed rice at Kasturi, Aheli, or The Bong Connection in Kolkata.
13. Tangra Tel Jhal
This fish curry recipe of Tangra fish is spicy and tangy. The tanginess gives your taste bud a chance to explore different flavors. Fried Tangra cooked with onion-ginger paste, tomato puree, and green chili. The addition of coriander leaves gives a beautiful aroma and flavor. Hot steamed rice and Tangra Jhal is a delight one can have. Try out this dish at any Bengali restaurant in Kolkata.
14. Puti Macher Tok
Tok is a Bengali word that means tangy. As the name suggests, Puti Macher Tok is a sour, a little bit spicy summer fish curry recipe. Fried fish cooked with tamarind paste, mustard seeds, and green chili. The addition of a little bit of sugar will balance the taste. It is a unique dish. Try this out with rice.
15. Aar Macher Kosha
It is very spicy, rich in flavors, and a delicious recipe. This fish is tender. Gently fried pieces of Aar Mach cooked with doi (curd), onion-ginger-paste, tomato pulp, green chili, garam masalas, and fried potatoes (optional). Cinnamon and garam masalas enhance the rich flavor. This dish tastes like heaven with rice. The best Aar Mach curry you will get is at Kasturi or Aheli.
16. Tilapia Jhol
It is a famous Bengali fish curry recipe and is simple to cook. Radhuni phoron (frying celery seed paste in mustard oil) is the first step in this fish curry recipe. Fried Tilapia fish cooked with that celery seeds paste, green chili, home spices, and coriander leaves. This curry goes well with hot rice. You may try this dish at Saptapadi, Kasturi, or other Bengali restaurants in Kolkata.
17. Gurjali Macher Jhol
Gurjali/Indian Salmon fish has a unique taste. This fish curry recipe is simple, packed with flavors, and healthy. The preparation includes Fried Gurjali Mach, pieces of cauliflower (phoollkopi), flat beans (sheem), green chilis cooked with celery seeds, regular home spices, and coriander leaves. This fish curry tastes better with rice. You can find this dish at any Bengali food joint.
18. Boal Macher Jhal
It is an Assam fish curry recipe though you will find it here in Kolkata. Fried Boal Mach cooked with onion-ginger paste, tomato puree, green chili, coriander leaves, and a spoonful of lemon juice. It is a spicy fish curry dish that goes well with piping hot rice. Aheli and Saptapadi have the best Boal Macher Jhal curry here in Kolkata.
19. Bata Macher Jhal
It is a famous dish in West Bengal. Bata is a small-size freshwater fish and the d Bata Macher Jhal recipe is easy to cook and a delicious dish. Fried Bata fish cooked with mustard paste, green chili, nigella seeds, and home spices. This recipe goes well with rice. At any Bengali food joint, you will get this dish.
20. Bagda Chingrir Malaikari
This creamy, velvety Bagda Chingrir Malaikari recipe is a royal dish for the Bengali people. Do not miss out on this delicious dish. Gently fried Bagda Chingri cooked into a super-creamy coconut milk sauce, onion-ginger paste, green chili, regular masala, and a spoonful of ghee. It tastes heaven with Pulao. Try this dish at Kasturi, Aheli, or 6 Ballygunge Place in Kolkata.
