Aam Kasundi Chingri Bhapa (Steamed Mango Mustard Prawn Curry - Bong style)

 

          Check out this traditional & an irresistible Bong delicacy of Prawns delicately steam cooked in a yummy raw mango-kasundi gravy. My all time favorite, this dish is a total amalgamation of the pungency from the bottled mustard paste, the tanginess from the raw mango and the heat from the green chilies. 

          This ridiculously simple and easy to cook dish is a very good option for a nice weekend comfort meal. Drizzle some extra mustard oil if you wish and enjoy it with hot steamed rice. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this classic treat.

          I always opt for this simple recipe whenever I need something quick as prawns being my favorite, does not take too long to cook. 

         All that you need to do, is to mix together a few ingredients along with the prawns and then steam it. Voila!! the dish is ready. 

          This is an absolutely quick fix weekend lunch for your entire family. In fact, it is a great party recipe when you have guests around.

          Hilsa fish, a very popular and yet another delicacy of all Bengalis is also cooked in the similar way. However, you may try with Pomfret or Bhetki too. 

          If kasundi is unavailable, then go ahead and ground 1 tbsp. mustard seeds along with 2 green chilies and salt to taste and proceed with the recipe. So Happy Cooking!!!

• 10-12 medium size prawns, cleaned, deveined and rinsed well
• 2-3 tbsp. kasundi (bottled mustard paste)
• 2-3 tbsp. raw mango paste
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. mustard oil
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• 2 green chilies (opt)

          In a bowl, mix all the above mentioned ingredients along with the prawns. 

          Transfer the contents to a steel container with a lid. Place 2 green chilies on the top if you wish. 

          Pour some water in a pan and place a stand over it. Place the closed steel container over it. 

          Cover the pan and steam cook for 12-15 minutes. When it cools down a little, open the lid.

          While serving, drizzle some extra mustard oil if you wish and serve with hot steamed rice. 

In a bowl, mix all the above mentioned ingredients along with the prawns.

Transfer the contents to a steel container with a lid. Place 2 green chilies on the top if you wish. Pour some water in a pan & place a stand over it. Place the closed steel container over it. 

                  Cover the pan & steam cook for 12-15 minutes.

                     When it cools down a little, open the lid.

While serving, drizzle some extra mustard oil if you wish & serve with hot steamed rice. 

Bhetki Dum Fish (Bong style)

 

                This is my version of Bong style Dum fish where I used some Bhetki pieces. You can make use of any fish of your choice. Very easy, simple and at the same time very delicious, this dish does not need too much of preparation. The whole process of cooking is in a dum style and it can be relished with either hot steamed rice, pulao or plain Biryani. Do check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

Marination-

• 2-3 pieces of Betki fish fillet
• salt to taste
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder 
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. roasted gram flour
• 1 tbsp. water
• 2-3 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. chopped coriander leaves, 1 tsp. fresh grated coconut and few strands of saffron to garnish.

Gravy-

• 1/2 cup yoghurt
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. fennel powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 2 tbsp. cashew nut paste
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• 1 tsp. ghee
• pinch of saffron soaked in 3/4 cup water
• 2-3 green chilies

          Marinate the fish pieces with salt, pepper powder, ginger-garlic paste, roasted gram flour, lime juice and some water for 10 minutes.

          Heat oil in a pan and shallow fry the marinated fish  till light golden colour on both sides. Drain and keep aside.

         In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the gravy and transfer into the pan in which the fish was fried.

          Place the fried fish and spoon the gravy over the fish. Place the green chilies over the fish. Cover with a foil and put a lid over it. 

          Cook on a low flame for 8-10 minutes. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, fresh grated coconut and saffron.

          Relish with hot steamed rice, pulao or plain Biryani.

                         Marinate the fish with salt, pepper powder, ginger-garlic paste, roasted

                          gram flour, lime juice and some water for 10 minutes.

                        Heat oil & shallow fry the marinated fish till light golden colour on 

                        both sides. Drain and keep aside.

                             In a bowl, mix together all the ingredients for the gravy.

                         Transfer into the pan in which the fish was fried. Place the fried fish.

                        Spoon the gravy over the fish. Place the green chilies over the fish. 

                                 Cover with a foil and put a lid over it. 

                                   Cook on a low flame for 8-10 minutes. 

                     Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, fresh grated coconut & saffron.

                     Relish with hot steamed rice, pulao or plain Biryani.

Begun diye Tangra Macher Jhaal (Fresh River Water Fish cooked with Eggplants - Bong style)

 

          Check out this traditional homemade style Bengali fish curry prepared along with eggplants. However, you can also cook it with potatoes, green papaya or parwal (pointed gourd). It goes best with hot steamed rice and is a common dish found on a Bengali platter. 

          The fish used in this recipe is Tangra which is a fresh river water fish. It is prepared in a thin gravy with minimum of spices. A tsp. of raw mustard oil can be drizzled on the end product to enhance the flavor and for some pungency. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this simple regional recipe.

• 10-12 tangra fish, cleaned, washed & drained
• 1 long eggplant, cut lengthwise
• 3 tbsp. mustard oil
• 1-2 green chilies, slit
• 1/2 tsp. nigella seeds (kalonji)
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Marinate the fish with a pinch of salt and turmeric powder for 5-10 minutes. Make a paste with turmeric powder, red chili powder and cumin powder along with some water and keep aside.

          Heat oil in a pan and stir fry the eggplants and the marinated fish separately till light golden in color. Drain and keep aside.

          Temper the same oil with kalonji and green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds. Add the spice paste and sauté till the oil separates. 

           Add 1 & 1/2 cups water and salt. Bring to a boil and gently drop in the fried fish and eggplant. Cover and simmer on a medium flame for 2-3 minutes.

          When done, garnish with coriander leaves and serve with hot steamed rice.

                                       Heat oil in a pan and stir fry the eggplants.......

                       & the marinated fish separately till light golden in colour. Keep aside.

                        Temper the same oil with kalonji & green chilies. Sauté for a few seconds. 

Add the spice paste and sauté till the oil separates. 

Add 1 & 1/2 cups water and salt. Bring to a boil.

Gently drop in the fried fish & eggplant. Cover & simmer for 2-3 min.

When done, garnish with coriander leaves.

                                 Serve with hot steamed rice.

                                     

Tilapia Fish Fry

 

             All the Fish lovers, try out this easy and a yummy Pan fried Tilapia Fish. The marination is quite simple with all easily available ingredients. You can relish it as an appetizer, accompanied with some fried curry leaves, green chilies and lime. It can also be had as it is, along with some salad / soup for a light dinner or as a side dish with ghee rice. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 1 Tilapia Fish, cleaned, washed & rinsed
• salt to taste
• 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder 
• 1 tsp. chickpea flour
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 3 tbsp. olive oil 
• 2 sprigs curry leaves

          Make a paste with the ginger-garlic paste, lime juice, 1 tbsp. oil, chickpea flour all the dry spices and some water if required. Marinate the fish with this paste for 2-3 hours. 

          Heat remaining oil in a pan and shallow fry the marinated fish on both sides till golden in colour. Keep aside. In the same oil sauté the curry leaves till crisp. 

          Serve, garnished with the fried curry leaves, green chilies and sliced lime.

                   Marinate the fish with a paste made of ginger-garlic paste, lime juice, 1 tbsp.

                   oil, all the dry spices and some water if required for 2-3 hours. 

                   Heat remaining oil & shallow fry the marinated fish on both sides till golden 

                   in colour. Keep aside.

                                  In the same oil sauté the curry leaves till crisp. 

                    Serve, garnished with the fried curry leaves, green chilies & sliced lime.

Chili Garlic Prawns

 

          If you are looking for a super quick side dish that is very easy to prepare and yummy at the same time, then you need to try my version of this Chili Garlic Prawns. This stir fry dish goes very well with Chinese fried rice or noodles. 

         You can adjust the seasonings and the sauces according to individual preference. I have added some homemade chili garlic paste instead of tomato ketchup. However, you can go ahead and add the latter if preferred. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this restaurant style dish.

• 350 gms. prawns, shelled & deveined
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 2 tbsp. garlic cloves, chopped
• 1-2 dry red chilies, broken
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. chili garlic sauce
• 1 tbsp. green chili sauce
• 1 tbsp. soy sauce
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper powder
• 1/4 tsp. red chili flakes
• 1 tbsp. spring onion (green part), chopped

          Heat oil in a wok / kadai and sauté the red chilies, green chilies and garlic for a minute. Add the onion and continue to sauté for a minute more. 

         Now add the prawns and stir fry for a minute. Add all the sauces and a pinch of salt. Sauté for a minute more. Add the red chili flakes and pepper powder and give it a stir. 

          When done, switch off the flame and garnish with chopped spring onion. Serve with Chinese fried rice or noodles for a restaurant style meal at home.

                        Heat oil & sauté the red chilies, green chilies and garlic for a minute. 

                                  Add the onion & continue to sauté for a minute more. 

                                  Now add the prawns and stir fry for a minute. 

                              Add all the sauces & a pinch of salt. Sauté for a minute more.

                                Add the red chili flakes and pepper powder and give it a stir. 

                     When done, switch off the flame & garnish with chopped spring onion.

                   Serve with Chinese fried rice or noodles for a restaurant style meal at home.