Macher Jhaal

Macher Jhaal

Macher Jhaal

Hot and sharp fish curry — rohu or katla fried and cooked in a sparse, pungent gravy of mustard paste, green chillies, and nigella seeds. Fiercer and drier than jhol.

Cuisines

Bengali

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Build a full meal around Macher Jhaal

Get a matched combo of sides and accents

Recipe

Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min Total: 40 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

Fish 300 grams Fish , fresh pieces, preferably Rohu or Katla
turmeric powder 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
red chili powder 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
mustard oil 2 tablespoons Mustard oil
Nigella Seed 1 teaspoon Nigella Seed
Green Chili 2 Green Chili , slit
Ginger 1 teaspoon Ginger , paste
mustard paste 1 teaspoon Mustard paste
water 1 cup Water
salt Salt , to taste
Cilantro 1 tablespoon Cilantro , chopped

Instructions

  1. 1 Clean the fish pieces thoroughly and pat them dry.
  2. 2 Marinate the fish with turmeric powder and salt. Set aside for 10 minutes.
  3. 3 Heat mustard oil in a pan until it reaches smoking point, then reduce the heat.
  4. 4 Fry the marinated fish pieces until golden brown on both sides. Remove and set aside.
  5. 5 In the same oil, add nigella seeds and let them splutter.
  6. 6 Add the slit green chilies and ginger paste. Sauté for a minute.
  7. 7 Add the mustard paste and red chili powder, and cook for another minute.
  8. 8 Pour in the water and bring it to a gentle boil.
  9. 9 Add the fried fish pieces to the pan, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes on low heat.
  10. 10 Adjust salt to taste and garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving.

Tips

For an authentic taste, use mustard oil and serve with steamed rice.