Bhetki Fish Fry

          For all the fish lovers - This delicious Bhetki Fry is a perfect appetizer / snack with a drizzle of some lime juice, sliced onion and green chilies as accompaniment. They can also be served with some mustard sauce (kasundi) a la Bengali style. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this delicacy.

• 4-5 Bhetki fish pieces
• salt to taste
• pinch of turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder, preferably Kashmiri chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. oil to marinate
• 2-3 tbsp. oil to shallow fry

          In a bowl, mix together all the spices starting from salt to oil to marinate. Now gently rub this masala all over the fish pieces and keep it aside for 15-20 minutes.

          Heat oil in a pan and fry them in batches on a medium flame on both sides till they are light golden brown. 

          Drain on a kitchen towel and serve them along with sliced onion, green chilies and lime wedges as appetizers.

                                  Mix all the spices starting from salt to oil to marinate. 

                              Rub this masala over the fish pieces & keep aside for 15-20 min.

                           Heat oil & fry them on both sides till they are light golden brown. 

                          Serve with sliced onion, green chilies & lime wedges as appetizers.

Ilish Maach Bhaja (Hilsa Fish Fry - Bengali Style)

       
             Hilsa fish, the most favourite delicacy among the Bong crowd, is relished in many ways. Some like it in a steamed form and some with gravy. But this is the fried version where the fish is only marinated with salt and turmeric powder and shallow fried in mustard oil. 

          1-2 dry red chilies too are fried in the same oil. It is then mixed with hot steamed rice along with the oil in which it was fried, a pinch of salt and the fried chilies crushed into it. This is how it is enjoyed as a main course. Fresh green / red chilies can also be substituted. It is simply divine. 

• 2 Hilsa fish pieces
• 1/4 tsp. salt or to taste 
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 3 tbsp. mustard oil
• 2 dry red chilies (opt)

          Marinate the fish pieces with salt and turmeric powder for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the fish till golden brown in colour. Fry the dry red chilies too, if using.

           Serve with hot steamed rice along with the oil in which it was fried. Accompany it with 1-2 fried dry red chilies or fresh green / red chilies.