Velankanni Fish fry

Velankanni is a pilgrimage place in TamilNadu.There is a famous Church for Mother Mary.Velankanni is situated along the sea shore and during the night time we can see a lot of stalls selling freshly caught fish fry .
Here is the recipe for that velankanni fish fry.

Ingredients:
Butter fish (unsliced)- 2 lb
lemon - 1
salt - 2 tsp
Red chilli powder - 3 tbsp
tumeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Red food color - 1/4 tsp (optional)


Method:
Choose small or medium size butter fish . If you cannot get fresh fish , then buy a frozen one.If you use a frozen fish, donot defreeze it in microwave oven.Otherwise fish will lose its flavor.Just take the fish from freezer and put it in luke warm water for 4 hours.Change the water frequently.
Then with a sharp knife cut the mouth portion and slit along the side for 2 inches. Carefully remove the parts inside and discard.
Remove the gills,scales,fins and tail.
It is always desirable to Use a separate cutting board for Non veg dishes.
Then wash the fish thoroughly with water.Then rub some turmeric powder all over the fish and wash it again.
Just make some small slits all over the flesh to facilitate frying.
Take a broad basin like vessel.Mix salt, lemon juice,chilli powder, red color , turmeric powder and mix well.
Apply this mixture all over the fish and dab some masala inside the fish too.Lemon makes the fish stiff , removes bad odor and discourages breaking of fish while frying.
Marinate it for 1 hour .
Heat oil in a pan , put the pieces one or two at a time and fry both sides crispy.

Tips:
You can marinate the fish and keep it in the cooler side of fridge(not freezer) and use it next day.Make some more masala if it is not sufficient.If lemon is not available then substitute it with tamarind extract or vinegar.

Serving suggestions:
Serve hot with rice and fish Kulambu.
Also goes fine with rasam saadham(saadham means rice), paruppu kulambu ,more kulambu and sambar .
suitable for parties.

Sura Puttu (Scrambled shark fry)

Sura means Shark fish in English. Puttu is equivalent to the word "scramble".So Sura Puttu can be translated as Scrambled shark fry.Right?
But by whatever name we call it,Sura puttu has a wonderful mouthwatering smell and a native taste.Whenever i see shark fish in any Asian food Market (not in sea or movie), i will get a great enthu.My mom cooks it with an authentic flavor and serve it as a side dish for Vaazhai meen kulambu and rice.vaazhai meen has a lot of thorny bones and only fish eating experts can eat it.Otherwise you may neeed some help to get rid of those tiny bones. But it gives a wonderful aroma to the meen kulambu.The preparation is slightly different from Madras sura puttu.You can try with salmon fish too.
All you need is just 20 minutes to make this wonderful sura puttu.

Ingredients:
Shark fish - 2 pieces (1/2 lb)
shredded coconut - 1 tbsp
water - 1 cup
salt- 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1tsp
green chillies- 3
Red onion- 1
garlic- 3 pieces
oil- 1 tbsp
cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp

Directions:
First wash the sura meen pieces under running water thoroughly.
Discard the head portion.
Bring to boil 1 cup of water.
Add salt , turmeric powder, garlic and the fish.
Close it with a lid and cook it for 5 minutes.
Then let it cool and remove the skin.Drain and store water.
Just separate the bone and keep aside.
You can use the bone and remaining fish water in making fish kulambu.
With your hands mash the fish and garlic.
In a pan add 1 tbsp of oil and let the mustard crackle.
Then add the chopped onion, green chillies, curry leaves and saute until the until the onion turns golden color.
Add the mashed shark pieces and scramble it to fine pieces.
Add enough salt.
After the fry becomes almost dry add cumin seeds and shredded coconut.

Serving suggestions:
Serve hot with piping hot rice and Fish curry.Also yummy with sambar or rasam rice.