Light Catfish curry with potato,cauliflower and dry white lentil dumplings

Bengali poeple can't live without macerjhol bhat (rice n light fish curry). While growing up macerjhol bhat was staple before and after school.Ma would finish cooking by 8:00 o'clock in the morning because papa used to catch train at 9:00 for office. We always had good hot lunch before going to school. Those were good old days!

Here we don't get to eat macerjhol bhat everyday and not even before leaving for office or school. But two or three times a week one meal is of course macher jhol bhat.We are pretty lucky to have access to Bong type fish here in Bay Area.

Last Sunday's dinner was Catfish(caught from local lake) r patla jhol with potato,cauliflower and dry white lentil dumplings.Cat fish belongs to Magurmach (yellow Catfish) family. For best flavor and taste live Catfish is  always recommended available at Asian supermarket.
 

This simple fish curry needs few ingredients and  less efforts.We Bengali cook fresh fish with little spices. No need to use onion and garlic either.

For the fish:
10  fish stakes
1/3 tsp salt
1/4 tsp turmeric powder.

For light gravy:
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp whole cumin seeds
1 medium potatoes cut into wedges
Few cauliflower florets
1 big tomatoes
2 tbsp ginger paste
A few sprigs of cilantro
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
6-7 hot green chilies or as per taste
Few dry white lentil dumplings (dalerbori)
3 cups of warm water
1/4 cup oil

Method~
Wash and dry fish stakes.Sprinkle salt and turmeric over stakes.Mix them well. set aside for 15 minutes.




 Heat oil in a cast iron(12' diameter) skillet(I always use cast iron)  in medium heat.Fry lentil dumplings(if you have some) and keep them aside.



In the same oil swallow fry fish stakes.Fresh fish doesn't require deep frying.I always lightly fry live fish stakes both sides until just light brown and drain them on a  paper towel.Be careful as oil splatters during frying.Hence I always cover while frying this type of fish.

 Now temper bay leaf and whole cumin.In the same oil and start sauteing potato and cauliflower. Reduce heat to low.Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until they are just semi tender.Add ginger,tomato,whole green chili, salt,cumin,turmeric and saute for few minutes covering with a lid if it splatters too much.You can slit one or two green chill.Pour warm water and bring to the boil.

Gently add fish stakes. Keep potatoes and cauliflower florets on top otherwise they will be smashed. At last add lentil dumplings. Simmer with the lid on for 8-10 minutes until veggies and bori are cooked through. Turn off the heat and wait for few moments.
Garnish with cilantro. Macherjhol is ready to be served with plain rice.
                                                                

                                                               

Note: To make more healthier, broil fish stakes in the oven for  about 10-12 minutes turning them once.Use 1/8 cup oil for sauteing potato,cauliflower and spice mix.