Parshe is a freshwater fish, which either cooked in a jhol (soupy fish curry) or cooked with mustard paste. I like the second version more. There are many way to cook fish with mustard paste. Bhapa actually means you would place the mustard paste coated fish pieces in a closed container (metal ones mostly), and that would be placed over a water bath, then it’ll be cooked on low heat for sometime. My mother used to cook Bhapa in a cooker. Removing the pressure weight is a must if you are using a cooker for bhapa. She used to place the steel container over water bath, then close the cooker lid, then proceed further. Well, I don’t follow this process anymore. At least for Parshe fish. What I do is, I place everything in a frying pan, close the lid and cook until done, lazy girl’s version. 😉

This is an old-style Bengali fish recipe that can never go wrong. If you’re trying the recipe let me know about your experience. 🙂

Bhapa Parshe/Steamed Parshe Fish in Mustard Gravy

Ingredients

• Parshe- 6 pieces
• Mustard paste 3 tbsp
• (You can mix yellow and black mustard seeds in equal proportion, if you want u can use only yellow mustard seeds or black mustard seeds for the paste also. Don’t forget to add few green chilies when you are making the paste) or use readymade mustard powder available in the market.
• Mustard oil- 4-5 tbsp
• Nigella seeds/Kalojire/Kalonji- 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
• Slit green chilies- 6-8
• Chopped coriander leaves- 2 tbsp
• Salt

Method

In a bowl add mustard paste, mustard oil, turmeric powder, salt (as per taste), nigella seeds. Mix well and keep aside. In a frying pan add this mixture with freshly washed steaks of Parshe and green chilies. Mix well. Add 1/2 cup of water, gently mix again. Spread few drops of mustard oil on top. Cover and cook on low flame for 12-15 minutes. Remove from heat. Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with steamed rice.

Note:

If you are using store brought mustard powder, then make green chili paste separately. And add this while mixing other ingredients with mustard paste.