in love with food: Fish

January 28, 2014

SPICY TOMATO FISH

Lazy winter months..unending cups of masala chai and...Unabated, the Tomato invades the kitchen making way towards the waiting rose pink fish...

Inspired by Pablo Neruda that was my ode to a laid back lunch...adding some delicious tanginess and spiciness to an otherwise insipid afternoon...enjoy!

To make this classic you need-

INGREDIENTS-

Boneless Fish pieces- 500gms
Tomatoes- 5 large (pureed in blender)
Ginger- large 2’ piece
Garlic- 6-7 cloves
Green chillies-2 large
Tamarind (Imli)- 1 tbsp
Caraway seeds (Ajwain)- ¼ tsp
Mustard/ Refined/ Olive oil- ½ cup
Cumin seeds (zeera)- ½ tsp
Onion- 1 small (make a paste)
Sugar- ½ tsp
Rock salt (kala namak)- ¼ tsp
Garam masala- 1 heaped tbsp
MDH Deggi mirch (Cayenne pepper)- ½ tsp
Juice of 1 lemon
Coriander/ Parsley- to garnish
Salt, red chilli powder and black pepper to taste

METHOD-

Marinate fish with salt and lemon juice for 2 hours or overnight.
Heat oil in a large flat bottomed pan, fry the fish pieces.
Drain with a slotted spoon onto absorbent paper.
Make a paste of ginger+garlic+green chillies+onion
In the same oil add the cumin and onion ginger garlic paste, fry for 2 minutes then add deggi mirch and tomato puree and fry very well on low flame till it leaves sides of pan.
Now add Tamarind, sugar, rock salt, garam masala, ajwain and lemon juice along with ½ cup water and fish pieces.
Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with freshly steamed rice/ paranthas or chapattis.

A NEW YEAR PARTY AND GREAT GRILLED FISH TIKKAS

My sister and brother-in-law hosted a lovely dinner at their place, this New year's eve, a quiet evening with some close friends and terrific food!, here's what the table looked like-

clockwise- cheese balls, masala almonds, chips, chicken and mutton seekh kababs, green chutney, yogurt dip and pickled onions

And believe me there was loads more, these were just appetizers- like this superb Grilled fish tikka, which just melted in my mouth!...and is unbelievably easy to make.....

MELT-IN-THE-MOUTH Grilled fish tikka's

Finally managed to get my hands on the recipe from my brother-in-law who made these !!here it is....

GRILLED FISH TIKKAS

Fresh fish (boneless) fillet- 1/2 kg

for the marinade-

Fresh thick curd- 1/2 cup
Ginger+garlic paste- 1/2 tsp
Gram flour(besan)- 1 tbsp.
salt and pepper to taste

Marinate the fish overnight, just before serving put under grill for 20 minutes, serve hot with pickled onions, green coriander chutney and fresh yogurt dip, and of course ketchup if you like!