Bhetki Maacher Paturi: Steamed Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaf

Bhetki is called Barramundi or Asian Sea Bass in English. We make various dishes with Bhetki. This dish, Bhetki Maacher Paturi is easy to make and is healthy and delicious. Basically a piece of fish and some mustard paste is wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. You could use other fish too if Bhetki is not available, like Red snapper fillet, or Tilapia fillet. If Banana leaf is not available you can wrap with Foil or Parchment paper, like in Fish en Papillote.

The steps are

1. Cut the banana leaf into approximately 12 inch pieces
2. Clean and filet the Bhetki, then cut into approximately 2 inch pieces.
3. Make the mustard paste
4. Wrap the fish pieces with a little of the mustard paste.
5. Steam the parcels of fish.

Ingredients

• Yellow Mustard seeds ( Sorshe, Sarason ). 4 Tablespoons
• Bhetki fillet cut into 2 or 3 inch pieces, used 8 pieces
• Turmeric powder ( Holud, Haldi ) 1/2 teaspoon
• Mustard oil ( Sorsher tel, Sarason ka tel ). 2 tablespoons plus more for brushing the leaves with.
• Coconut ( Narkel, Nariyal ) grated or pieces 5 tablespoons
• Green chillies ( Kancha lonka, Hari mirch ) 10 pieces ( hot and spicy)
• Salt ( noon, namak). 1/2 teaspoon and 1/2 teaspoon
• Banana leaves ( kola pata, kela patta ) 8 pieces
• Water ( Jol, Paani)b1/2 cup or just enough to make the mustard paste.
• Twine or thread ( dhaga ). for tying the parcels

Prepping

Wash and marinate the pieces of fish with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder. By the time the mustard paste is done the fish will be marinated.

If you get a whole Banana Leaf cut along the mid vein to get 2 long pieces, then cut each into 12 inch pieces. Wash well. Then soften the leaves. ( below is the video of How to soften the Banana leaf) )

In a bowl soak the mustard seeds with a little water for about 1/2 hour. After 30 minutes, drain out the water and grind it in a blender / grinder (or on a stone) with the 4 tablespoon of coconut grated and 1 or 2 hot green chilies. Add just enough water to be able to grind but just enough to make a paste, not a slurry.

Now we are ready to wrap the fish in the leaf

How to Soften the Banana leaves

The fresh Banana leaves cannot be folded because they tear along their veins. so we have to soften them.

1 Dip the leaves in boing water for just a couple of minutes. You will seethat the leaves will become soft and pliable.

2 The other way to heat it over a stove. Or heat it on a big pan for a few minutes.

Both methods work well but I prefer the First one.

Dry the leaf as much as possible before wrapping the fish in it.

How to Wrap

Add the Mustard oil, and salt to the Mustard paste, and mix it well. Taste it so that the seasoning is right. It should be a little spicy.

Take one leaf and put it on a plate with the right side up

Place 1 teaspoon of mustard paste ( use less if you prefer) in the middle of the leaf.

Place the piece of Fish on the Mustard paste and put a teaspoon of the mustard paste on the fish and top it with a Chili, ( slit the chili if you like very spicy)

Wrap the 2 long sides first over the fish, then wrap the other sides over.

Tie it with a piece of thread or twine. You can also use a toothpick to pin the folds if you want. 1 parcel made

Keep this on a plate. Finish wrapping all the fish pieces .

Place them in a steaming basket or whatever steamer you have, and steam for 5 to 6 minutes on one side the flip the parcels and steam for about 5 minutes.

To serve remove the string, and serve the fish in the banana leaf or you can remove the leaf and serve only the fish. I serve with the leaf but the string removed. This is best with hot cooked rice.

How to wrap the fish step by step photos