Ingredients

  • 8 Bombay duck, fish cut into 2 pieces each (Bombil)
  • 10 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 inch gingerroot, finely chopped
  • 2 green chilies, coarsely ground
  • 2 red onions, sliced thinly (medium sized)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seed, for seasoning
  • 4 green cardamoms
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 whole dried red chilies
  • 3 tablespoons mustard oil
  • salt, as required
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon red chili pepper
  • coriander, finely chopped for garnishing

Method

  • Wash, pat dry and apply salt (1 tsp) and turmeric (1 tsp) to the fish pieces and keep aside for 15 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat mustard oil in a flat non-stick girdle or deep pan. When smoking, add dried red chillies, whole spices, cumin seeds. Let splutter. Add sliced onion. Cook for 2 minutes Add ginger-garlic- green chilly paste/ mix. Fry well for 2 minutes in high flame. Add the spice powders and 4 tbspn of water to cook the spices.
  • Move the spice mix to the side of the pan. Add the fish pieces to the same pan, side by side. Reduce flame to medium, and allow the fish to cook in its juices for 5 minutes.
  • With a spoon, spread the cooked spice mix over the fish, add a cup of water. Let the fish cook in the gravy for 5 minutes Since this fish is delicate, take care not to stir too much so that the pieces remain intact.
  • You may add 1 tsp of lemon juice (optional).
  • Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
  • Remove from flame. Serve hot.
  • Tastes best with rice.