Pomfret Fish Curry- Ikan Bawal curry and Lemon Rice

We have been wanting to make Pomfret fish curry with South Indian influence for long time. So, made this pomfret fish curry and lemon rice.This was really a nice variation for our Bengali palette. Simple ‘mach-bhaat’ turned out something lip-smacking and delicious supper for us. Here is how we made both….

Pomfret Fish curry / Ikan Bawal curry

Recipe requirements (serves 2-3)

2-3 pomfret fish  

1 large tomato

3 cloves of garlic

8-10 shallots 

Spices and seasonings

1 tsp of turmeric powder (½ tsp of stir/fry and ½ tsp for rubbing fish)

 2 tsp of red pepper powder

 ½ tsp of coriander powder

 1 tsp of salt or as per taste

3-4 Thai red chillies

5-6 tbs of mustard oil

 1 cup of coconut milk

 Curry patta 12-15 leaves

Method

Clean, and cut pomfret fish. Clean the fish stomach as well. Cut into half.

Rub in fish with turmeric powder and salt. Keep aside.

Heat up a fry pan, add 2 tbs of mustard oil, add in pomfret fish and stir/fry them for about 3-4 mints flipping sides as well. Take out in a separate plate/bowl.

In that fry pan itself, add more mustard oil, add in chopped garlic and Thai red chillies. Add in curry patta/leaves.

Now add in chopped tomato and shallots as well. Keep on stir/fry for about 7-8 mints at medium high flame.

Now add in turmeric powder, red pepper powder, coriander powder and salt. Sprinkle little bit of water and keep on stir/fry.

Add in fried fishes.

Add in 1 cup of coconut milk and water depending upon the consistency of curry. Don’t add much water if you want a thick gravy. As we were going to have with lemon rice, I thought little bit of gravy is required. So I added coconut milk and water in equal proportions.

Cover and cook for 8-10 mints or till fishes are cooked through well.

Take out in a serving bowl. This goes well with warm cooked rice or with lemon rice.

Lemon rice

Recipe requirements (serves 2-3 people)

4 cups of cooked rice or 2 cups of uncooked rice

¾ tsp of turmeric powder

1 tsp of salt

3-4 tbs of cooking oil

For tempering

2 tsp of chana dal

 2 tsp of white urid dal

2 twigs of curry leaves or 10-12 leaves

1 tsp of mustard seeds

2-3 dry red pepper

½ cup of raw peanuts

 2-3 tsp of lemon juice

Method

Soak rice grains in water for about 10-12 mints.

Cook rice in a big pot with water. Sprinkle turmeric powder into it and mix well. Leave it to cook and drain the starch once rice is cooked. Keep the pot open, do not cover .Let the vapour/steam escape. Add in lemon juice and mix gently.

Now in a big enough fry pan/kadai, which can hold entire rice content, add in cooking oil.

Add in peanuts and fry them for couple of mints.

Now temper the oil with mustard seeds, dry red pepper, Urid dal and Chana dal.

Add in curry leaves.

Now add in cooked rice grains and slowly mix in the rice with the above tempering mixture.

Cover and leave aside for half an hour.

Serve with fish curry. This is absolutely aromatic and delicious.

Happy Cooking friends........