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MasterChef Winner Ashiq's Mangalore Fish Fry

By MOHAMMED ASHIQ
December 20, 2023 13:04 IST
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Mangalore-based juice bar owner Mohammed Ashiq, 24, takes great pride in creating Indian food, especially the delicious offerings of his native place.

The MasterChef India Season 8 winner's favourite dish is the spicy, tangy, and oh-so-flavourful Fish Fry, which is a speciality in north Karnataka. "I have tried so many types of fish fry, but there's nothing like Mangalorean fish fry," Ashiq tells Mayur Sanap/Rediff.com.

Ashiq shares the recipe for dish which is very simple to make and can be had as an appetiser or alongside steamed rice, dal or rasam.

Seasoned with a tantalising mix of local Bedgi chillies, coriander and tamarind, the recipe is plenty aromatic and looks heavenly. It is a great dish to add to your Christmas or New Year dinner table.

IMAGE: Mohammed Ashiq's fish fry gets its spicy kick from Bedgi chillies. Wrinkled and deep red colour this variant of chillies comes from Karnataka. Photograph: Kind courtesy Mohammed Ashiq/Instagram

Mangalorean Fish Fry

Serves: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 meaty slices of king fish or pomfret or any fish of your choice, washed and cleaned
  • 1 medium-sized onion, roughly chopped
  • 10-15 bedgi chillies
  • 2 tbsp dhania or coriander seeds
  • 2 tbsp jeera or cumin seeds
  • 1 tbsp imli or tamarind paste
  • ¼ tsp haldi or turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste, about 1 tsp
  • 1 sprig curry patta or leaves
  • 2 tbsp or more coconut oil, for shallow frying
  • ½ cup water

Method

  • In a mixer-grinder, combine the red chillies, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, chopped onion, turmeric powder, tamarind paste, salt.
    Grind to a smooth paste in a mixer, adding water as needed.
  • Generously apply the paste on the fish slices.
    Make sure each piece is well-coated with the paste.
    Let the fish marinate in the paste for at least 10-15 minutes.
  • Warm a non-stick or cast-iron frying pan over medium heat.
    Pour in the coconut oil.
    Shallow fry the fish along with the curry leaves over low heat for 7-8 minutes on each side.
    Drain from the oil and transfer onto a plate.
    Serve hot with steamed rice, dal or rasam.

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MOHAMMED ASHIQ