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Monday, November 16, 2009

Gurjali Maachh er Jhol

(Indian Salmon...Bengali Style)
Gurjali, or as we Bangaals say, Gurjauli, is not available very often in this Teleguland which has been my home for the past 30 months or so.

So when SD got it as part of his Sunday fish basket, my call to Ma was the usual "Gurjauli maachh ki diye ranna korbo?" (With what should I cook Gurjauli Fish?)

Why this query is of significance is, because we Bongs, have this unwritten do s and dont's when it comes to our traditional cooking. No garlic in this, no onion in that, paanch phoron here and kaalo jeera there....oh well....the list is never ending.

So when Ma said - kalo jeera phoron, shorshe bata, I heaved a sigh of relief! The simplest of fish curries....easy to make and good to eat on a lovely Sunday afternoon!!!

So here goes the recipe....

Ingredients :
1. Gurjali/Gurjauli Fish - 750gm
2. Kalo jeera/Nigella seeds/Kalonji - 1/2 tsp
3. Green Chilies - 3-4 or more
4. Haldi/turmeric - 1/2 tsp
5. Red Chili powder - 1/2 tsp (or more)
6. Kashmiri Chili powder - 1/2 tsp (for colour)
7. Mustard powder/paste - 1-1.5 tsp
8. Tomatoes - 1 small or 1/2 medium - diced
9. Coriander leaves - a small bunch, chopped finely
10. Salt to taste
11. Mustard Oil for cooking & sauteing the fish

Procedure :

* Toss the fish pieces in salt, turmeric powder and keep them marinated for 5-10 minutes.

* Fry the fish lightly and keep aside

* In a wok take mustard oil and when smoking hot, temper with Kalo Jeera/Kalonji and slit green chilies

* Add to the tempering the diced tomatoes and stir.

* Mix the Haldi, Chili powder, Kashmiri Chili powder, 1/2 tsp of mustard powder, salt with water into a thick paste. Add to the wok. and stir briskly on medium flame.

* Take care not to burn the masala. Sprinkle water from time to time. Once the oil separates from the masalas, check to see if the raw smell of turmeric is still there. If the masalas still retain the raw smell, sprinkle some more water and stir again for a minute or two.

* Add the lightly fried fish pieces. Stir slowly to mix the masalas. Pour 4-5 cups of water. The gravy will be light and watery. Cover and cook on low flame for 2-3 minutes or till it starts boiling.

* Add 1/2 cup water to the mustard powder/paste. Now mix well and pass the mustard water through a sieve into the wok. This makes the gravy mustard flavoured and yet does not impart the rich, spiciness of mustard.

*Let it boil for another few seconds...garnish with slit green chilies and chopped coriander leaves.

* Switch off the flame and serve with steamed rice.
This light watery gravy tastes good ONLY if the fish is very fresh.

This is my 3rd entry to the Blog event ''THINK SPICE:THINK TURMERIC", hosted for Nov '09 by Sudeshna of COOK LIKE A BONG and the Think Spice event is the brainchild of Sunita of Sunita's World .
The logo for the event is...

17 comments:

  1. Gurjali machher naam onekdin por shunlam. Khub bhalo r mishti khete hoy. Darun recipe and chhobita dekhe to ekhoni khete ichhe korchhe.

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  2. Gurjali maach ki? Ami shotti konodin shunini.Kintu jhol ta darun dekhte hoyeche. :-)

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  3. Really heard after long time..amra gurjauli mach boli...taste o bhule gechi...the curry look really apptizing...yumm with hot rice..

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  4. Gurjali mach ar AAr mach ki onek ta aekrokom ?..

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  5. dear sharmistha
    BaDi-r paining sesh hol-e ( ami pahara dichhi)CR Park giye Gurjali machh anbo.
    keu jante chey chhe ...arH ar gurjali ek kina
    Arh is cat fish also known as singhara

    chhobi-r link pathalam
    Gurjali ( Indian salmon)
    http://images.google.com/images?q=indian+salmon&btnG=Search+images&hl=en&sa=2&start=0

    ARh or singhara (Sperata seenghala or Aor)

    pictures
    http://images.google.com/images?q=Sperata+seenghala+&btnG=Search+images&hl=en&sa=2&start=0

    happy cooking
    bhalo theko

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  6. @Ushnish Ghosh- thanks for your info....

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  7. Fish looks delicious....Its a new recipe to me...

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  8. @Babli-Hya...khub tasty hoy. Amio onekdin pore khelam.

    @Sharmila & Indrani -Amrao etake Gurjauli boli...google e dekhlam it's Gurjali aka Indian Salmon! So I presume, we Bangaals give a twist and call it Gurjauli!
    Thanks!

    @HR-apni khaanni?? Ei Sunday tei Gariahat ki Lake mkt e jaan!! ;)))

    @UG-Ha ha....apni baari painting er supervisor!!!!! Khub dukkhojonok duty!!! Aarh ki catfish? tahole Magur ki?

    @Tina-Thanks so much...

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  9. Sharmistha
    Ha ha Sab Cat-ra ki ek rakom dekhte hoe!! Can you imagine Tyangra is also e cat fish with Magur etc

    Cat fish-ra ja dustu!!

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  10. @SGD- na shambabh na... puro mach tai aeka khete hobe... ha ha ha ...

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  11. Another common name for Gurjali in Hindi is Rawas..which is used in many fish dishes and widely known

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  12. Super! I never thought of salmon in an asian, spicy gravy. Looks awesome, especially with the white rice!

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  13. Thanks for the recipe -- ekta kotha janar chhilo - keu ki ada-gorom moshla ba anyo bhaabe gurjauli machh attempt korechhey? ektu janale khub subidha hoy, thanks.

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  14. In english Gurjali is Salmon

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  15. In english Gurjali is Salmon

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  16. Maach ta sotti bhalo. Onekta Ilish r Bhetki r moto. Taste e ilish r gondhe Bhetki. Oi gondho ta na thakle maachta Ilisher thekeo tasty. Apnara keu oi gondho ta chapa dewar upai bolte paren?

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