Monday, April 19, 2010

A day with Butter fish !

Hope many of you know my passion to cook sea food. So I look for an opportunity to buy newer and cuter fish varieties whenever I visit a nearby Asian market.
Last time I saw a pack of fresh 'butter fish' at a great deal. Believe me, I got some 6 fishes in that pack for just $3. Suddenly I grabbed it and started planning something gorgeous. I couldn't think of anything beyond my usual curry and fry. But wished to make it a post for the fish-lovers out there:)

Do you know the fish curry tastes amazing the next day and it will make a great pair with idly? So the next time if you make meen kulambu,  make some extra servings. Ok:)

I prepared a fish curry with 2 fishes and did a 'full fish fry' using the remaining four fishes. The result was awesome and it reminded me of the 'Besant Nagar beach' (Chennai, India) style fish fry. Here are some pictures and recipes to enjoy:)

Translation: Butter fish -> Karapudi meen , kuthippu (Tamil).

Yes buddies! We had a superb fish meal on that day and the next day breakfast was a memorable one too:)

Have a beautiful week ahead!

Deal of the day:)

Fishes marinated in masala and lime juice.
(Mmmm...shall I fry 4 fishes or the whole lot? Ok. Lets make some gravy too).


Fishes getting deep fried.


Full fish fry arranged for lunch:)

Ingredients:
Butter fish (whole)- 4
Oil to deep fry - 200 ml

lemon - 1/2
salt - to taste (approximately 1 tsp)
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
coiander powder - 3 tsp
black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
tumeric powder- 1/2 tsp (for coating the fish)

Cleaning the fish:
Wash the fish and remove all the fins and scales by a sharp knife.
Make a small longitudinal slit under the jaw and remove the inner parts.
Remove the mouth and gills (red flower like part inside the jaw).
Apply little turmeric powder over the fish and keep aside.

Make small slits in slanting manner (2 or 3) on both sides of the fish.

Method:
Squeeze lemon and mix all the masalas given above except the fish and oil.
(Lemon makes the fish stiff , removes bad odor and discourages breaking of fish while frying).

Apply this mixture all over the fish and dab some masala inside the fish too. Marinate it for 1 hour .
Heat oil in a broad pan. Reduce the flame to medium. Put the pieces one or two at a time and fry both sides crispy. Do this in low flame for a long time, so that the masala inside the fish also gets cooked up.
Drain and take out the fried fishes.

Full fish fry is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve hot with rice and Meen Kulambu (Fish curry).
It also goes fine with rasam or paruppu kulambu, with rice.

Meen Kulambu
:
The other two fishes were made into a curry along with boiled eggs.

Fish curry Preparation:
(To make 3 cups of thick gravy)

Items required:
Butter fish - 2 (300 gm)
sesame oil - 2 tbsp
mustard seeds- 1 tsp
fenugreek seeds- 1/2 tsp
Tamarind - 1 small lemon size
Red chilly powder -1.5 tsp
coriander powder- 3 tsp
turmeric powder-1/4 tsp
tomato - 2
green chillies - 2
curry leaves- 2 sprigs.

To grind:
shredded coconut - 1/2 cup
shallot - 8
cumin seeds - 1 tsp

Cleaning the fish:
Wash the fish and remove all the fins and scales by a knife.
Make a small longitudinal slit under the jaw and remove the inner parts.
Remove the mouth and gills (red flower like part inside the jaw).
Then slice it into big chunks. Try to use the head portion, which will add extra oiliness and add to the taste of the curry. Wash again.
Apply little turmeric powder over the fish and keep aside.

Curry preparation:
Extract juice from tamarind and add chilli powder, coriander powder, pinch of turmeric powder, salt and mix well.Keep aside.

Heat the sesame oil in vessel. (Fish curry prepared in earthen vessel tastes good).Add mustard and fenugreek seeds. After the mustard seeds crackle add the curry leaves .

Then add chopped tomato and saute till oil separates.
Add tamarind juice mixture and let it boil for 5 minutes.
Then add the finely ground coconut-onion paste.
Immediately after this starts boiling add the fish pieces.
cover the vessel and simmer the heat.

Keep the curry gets cooked in simmer heat for 15 minutes.
DO NOT stir the curry after adding the fish, otherwise you may end up with broken pieces.
Then put off fire.Garnish with chopped green chillies and curry leaves.

Serving suggestions:
Serve hot with rice , chapathi or Idly or dosai .
Deep fried fish, omelet ,ripe mango are good side dishes along with meen kuzhambu and rice.

23 comments:

SathyaSridhar said...

Haaiiiii Viki,,epdi paa irukkeenga.. ennanga ithu fish ah kaati ennai echil oora vechutengalae...rombha nalla pakkuvama seithurukkenga dear... apdiye kulambula egg mithanguthee ...

SathyaSridhar said...

Haaiiiii Viki,,epdi paa irukkeenga.. ennanga ithu fish ah kaati ennai echil oora vechutengalae...rombha nalla pakkuvama seithurukkenga dear... apdiye kulambula egg mithanguthee ...

VineelaSiva said...

Wow viki the fish looks very inviting.It makes me drooling dear.I love the fried fish.Thanx for sharing.

Gita Jaishankar said...

Nice dishes dear....I too go crazy over fish...fish fry with fish kuzumbu is my all time favorite combination :)

Sailaja Damodaran said...

Making me hungry........

Shobana senthilkumar said...

Nice tempting butter fish...adding lime is new to me in fish fry..ust have to try

Ann said...

Dear I started eating fish recently and I'm in love with fish curry.. I love this recipe but not sure where will I get the Butter fish.. Looks super tempting and mouth watering.

Cool Lassi(e) said...

I like both the recipes..I love the fish kuzhambhu too much. I make it with butter fish too since it doesn't stink too much and tastes awesome. Great post Viki!

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Viki
How are you? I am very irregular these days..These fish dishes are just too good....will try as soon as i reacxh home...i am just fade up with meat eating and Pasta Rissoto et al.
have a nice week ahead

Priya Suresh said...

Slurppppp!!mouthwatering dishes, am drooling rite now over those fried fish...yummm...

Sashi said...

I am a die hard fan of fish fry, am drooling Viki. Yummy !!

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

i love fish fry... this looks so good...

Manju said...

both the fry and the kulambu looks delicious!!

and thats such an awesome deal you got for the fish!

Hamaree Rasoi said...

Those are drool worthy fried fishes.
The curry preparation with boiled egg was very unique to me as I have never thought of mixing boiled egg with fish curry. Great recipes...
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Nandinis food said...

Ahhh! Viki, I am drooling here. Adding boiled egg in fish kuzhambu is new to me.
Varuval super combo:)

Ash said...

WOW!!! such awesome mouthwatering preps.... I just felt like I was full after I read through..... And those step by step illustrations are so convincingly tempting..... You enjoyed right!!!!! That is all that matters..... Hugs))))

Ash....
(http://asha-oceanichope.blogspot.com/)

Malar Gandhi said...

Meen porichadhu, summa aalai thookkudhu' very ethnic. I like the whole fish, its been ages...I have spotted one such live fish'...both fry and kuzhambu looks amazing.

Mary Bergfeld said...

We, too, are fish lovers. Your recipes sound wonderful and look amazing. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings...Mary

Shama Nagarajan said...

wow..superb mouthwatering fish delights..

Subhie Arun said...

hiii..hru yar...fish dish supera irukke pa...love both dish...

Urmi said...

The fish looks tempting. I love all types of fish and thanks for your wonderful recipe. Butter fish looks delicious and you have presented very beautifully.

Cham said...

I ven't see any fresh butter fish here! That is great steal! My mom does the gravy with lots of fresh black pepper and garlic! They are good for cold! Love the fry!

s said...

very very tempting..yum yum!

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