Maacher jhol (Bengali fish curry)

This curry is full-flavoured, tangy and spicy - a curry made for Indians. It is unadulterated and unapologetic. Those who like their Indian food mild need not bother with this dish.



Ingredients:

• 8 fish fillets8
• 1 tablespoon red chilli powder
• 4 red chillies whole
• 1 teaspoon mustard paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 4 green chillies slit
• 2 tablespoon coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cup onions chopped
• 1 tablespoon ginger paste
• 1 teaspoon onion seeds (kalonji)
• 2 tablespoon lemon juice
• mustard oil for frying
• salt to taste

Method

Clean and cut fish fillet, wash well, remove excess water and then marinate with limejuice, turmeric powder and salt. Keep aside for 30 minutes.
Heat up a pan, mix in 1 tablespoon oil, shallow fry marinated fish from both sides until slightly browned. Take off and keep aside.
Heat up remaining oil, mix in mustard seeds, kalonji, whole dry red chillies and bay leaf, stir fry for a few minutes till seeds crackles, mix in ginger, garlic paste and stir fry again for a moment. Mix in cut onion and stir fry until slightly brown in colour.
Mix in mustard paste, red chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder; stir fry masala nicely until oil starts separating. Adjust water and salt, bring to boil and then mix in shallow fried fish, put green chilli slits on top. Stir fry on a slow flame until fish get cooked and oil starts floating on top of gravy. Take off and decorate with cut green coriander leaves.