Bata Mach ar Jhal...

Food is not just a mean to satisfy our hunger, rather it serves as an art characterised by distinct techniques with a mix of specific culture. Various factors like local ingredients, traditions, and customs get involve in the process to create a unique dish. Therefore here I present before you a very popular recipe of the Bengali households- "Bata Mach ar Jhal", prepared to relieve all from the daily toil of excavating some distinct cuisine at the dinner table to please your taste buds. Let's try our hands on this special recipe today.

Bata Mach ar Jhal...

Ingredients-

To marinate the fish-

Bata Mach - 10 medium pieces

1 teaspoon - Salt

1 teaspoon - Turmeric powder

For the Gravy-

1 large Potato, cut into thick wedges

2 Onion, thin sliced

2 Tomato, vertically cut into 6 pieces

2 Green Chilli

2 tablespoon Cilantro, chopped

1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds

1 Dry Red Chilli

1-2 Bay Leaf

1 teaspoon Turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon Red Chilli powder

2 teaspoons Cumin powder

2 teaspoons Coriander powder

1 teaspoon Garam Masala powder

1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper powder

Salt and Sugar to taste.

Mustard oil for cooking.

1 glass Water for gravy (Quantity can be varied as per desired consistency).

Method-

Cut and clean the Bata fish and marinate them with salt, turmeric powder and keep them aside for 10 minutes. Add oil into the kadai and wait until the oil is hot. Put the flame in low and add the marinated fish into the pan. Fry them from both sides for a minute in medium-high flame. Once the bottom side is done, turn the fish very gently and fry another side. Once the fish are done keep them aside on a plate. In the same kadai add the cumin seeds, dry red chilli, bay leaves and cook for 30 seconds in medium-high flame. Add the onions and give a nice mix. Cook them for 3-4 minutes until the onions become translucent. Add the potatoes, green chillies and give a nice mix. Cover the pan and cook them in low flame for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add tomatoes and mix them properly and cook for another minute. Add salt, sugar, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, black pepper powder and give a nice mix. Cover the pan and cook them until the vegetables get tender. Add the cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and give a nice mix. Cook them in low flame for another minute. Add water and cover the pan. Put the flame in high and cook until the gravy starts simmering. Put the flame in low and add fish into the kadai. Sprinkle chopped cilantro over the top. Cover the pan and cook the fish for 2 minutes in medium-low flame. Take off the lid and flip the fish delicately. Cover the pan and cook them in lowest flame for 1-2 minutes. Don’t stir the fish in between and switch off the flame. Serve with steaming hot rice.

Note-

You can also make this recipe with cauliflower and peas. Just fry the cauliflower florets separately and add them to the gravy when it's half done along with the peas.

Please do try this recipe at your home and let me know how it was in the comments section below. Also, do share and follow me for more such easy, tasty and delightful recipes. Thank you. Enjoy.