Bengali Fish Stew Recipes

Steps:

• Heat 3 1/2 tablespoons mustard oil in a small nonstick pan over a medium heat until smoking. Remove the pan from the heat, and set aside for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Add the cardamom pods, cloves, bay leaves, and panch phoran, and fry over a low heat, stirring well, until the mixture starts to darken in color.
• Add the onion, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until softened. Add the green chiles, ginger paste, and garlic paste, and continue to cook, stirring well, for another minute.
• Add the coriander, cumin, turmeric, chile powder, paprika, if using, and salt, to taste, and stir well to combine, and then add the water. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then turn down the heat and simmer the mixture for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the volume of liquid has reduced. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a separate frying pan over a high heat, add the sea bream pieces, and fry for 1 to 2 minutes, turning once, until the fish pieces are golden brown on all sides. Add the fish to the spice mixture, adding more water as necessary to thin the sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. Serve immediately with basmati rice.

Steps:

• Bring the tomatoes, cumin, turmeric, salt, and water to a boil in a four quart saucepan; reduce heat to medium and maintain a simmer.
• Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; cook the fish in the oiled skillet until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to the saucepan.
• Heat a separate skillet over medium heat, and toast the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, black cumin seeds, fennel seeds, and fenugreek seeds until fragrant, just a few seconds. Stir the spices into the saucepan. Simmer until the flavors integrate, about 10 minutes more. Serve hot.

Steps:

• In a bowl, marinate the fish in 1/4 tsp turmeric and a good pinch of salt, tossing to coat, then set aside. Using a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar, grind the mustard seeds to a fine powder. Put the tomato, garlic, 2 or 3 green chillies, the powdered mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp turmeric, a pinch of salt and 150ml water in the small bowl of a food processor and blitz to a smooth paste.
• Heat 3 tbsp of the mustard oil in a medium-sized non-stick pan until smoking, then take off the heat and wait for 30 secs. Add the nigella seeds to the pan and allow to sizzle for 10 secs, then add the paste. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the excess liquid has evaporated and the paste releases its oil. Lower the heat and continue cooking for another 4 mins or so, until it darkens a little. Add 400ml water and the remaining chillies, bring to a boil and simmer for 7-8 mins until it has a medium consistency, not too watery. Check the seasoning and keep on a low heat while you fry the fish.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan until smoking. Add the fish and fry on all sides for around 6 mins until golden brown. Add the fish to the mustard sauce, bring back to the boil and cook for 2 mins. Sprinkle on the coriander leaves and serve with rice, if you like.