Catla (Bengal Carp) Curry Recipe/ Katla Maacher Jhol .

Hi one and all ,

I try updating my blog and keep posting on a regular interval of two days . So today , i have come up with yet another simple recipe . Being a bengali if i dont post a fish recipe , my family for sure will discard me . Fish is like a staple food for bengalis . We eat fish like 365 days a year . Ya you have read it right. I am sure you must be giving expressions like ( WHAT THE FISH ) !!!!! Never mind its a long story with fish and bengalis. And yes you have guessed it right today i will be posting a fish curry recipe.

Since i believe in hassle free cooking  , my recipe will take hardly 30mins to cook. On a regular basis for lunch and dinner we bengalis eat either rohu fish ( salmon ) or katla fish  ( bengal carp ) . I will be preparing today's fish curry with bengal carp since that is what my husband bought from the fish market last night. You can cook the recipe with any other fish as well. So , here is the recipe.

Preparation time : 5mins
Cooking time : 25mins
Servings : 4

Ingredients :

• fish ( 4 pieces )
• oil ( 4 tablespoon )
• green chilli (4 to 6 )
• tomato ( 2 medium )
• onion ( optional )
• salt to taste

Spices :

• mustard seeds ( 1/2 teaspoon )
• turmeric powder ( 1 teaspoon )
• red chilli powder ( 1 teaspoon )
• coriander powder (1 teaspoon )
• cumin powder ( 1 teaspoon )
  
  Procedure :
  
  Step 1 : Marinate the fish pieces with a little salt and turmeric powder as shown in the pic.
  
  
  
  
  Step :2 Slit the green chillies , chop the tomatoes and keep aside.
  
  
  
  
  
  Step 3 : Make a paste of turmeric , red chilli , coriander and cumin powder with 2 tablespoon of water as shown in the pic.
  
  
  
  
  Step 4 : Heat oil in a wok. ( i used mustard oil , you can use any other oil preferably mustard oil ).
  Step 5 : Slide the marinated fish pieces into the oil , preferably two at a time ( depending upon the capacity of your wok ) as shown in the pic. And shallow fry the pieces on both sides. Repeat the process for the rest of the pieces.
  
  
  

       
             Step 6 : Keep the fried fish pieces aside and in the same oil (you may add more if required) , add the mustard seeds and let it crackle. Then you may add the slit green chiilies as as shown in the pic.
 

         
             Step 7 : Now add the chopped tomatoes and keep stirring for a minute. Try and mash the tomatoes with the end of your spatula .            

           
                 Step 8 :  In this step , add the paste you prepared earlier . Take a look. And cook it for 4 to 5 mins on simmer or else the paste might get burnt. Do not forget to give a stir in between.                      

                                       

                Step 9 : now add 4 cups of water & salt ( you may adjust water as per your requirement ) .  Now slowly slide the fish pieces as shown in the pic. And bring it to a boil depending upon the consistency you desire.                                            
                               

 
              Step 10 : Your fish curry is ready to be served. Serve it with piping hot rice. Just garnish it with chopped coriander leaves /   cilantro before serving . I skipped garnishing my dish as there was no coriander leaves / cilantro left in my veggie box. Poor me !!!

Hope you liked the recipe . Do let me know if you have liked it. Will come soon with yet another easy peasy recipe. Till then stay tuned.

P.S. : If you are using onions , then add the onions just before adding the tomatoes and saute it for a minute.

You may also like : http://shudhrita.blogspot.in/2014/05/fish-stuffed-in-pointed-gourd-maach.html