Tuesday 25 August 2015

MURO GHONTO / BENGALI STYLE FISH HEAD CURRY


MUROGHONTO is Fish Head Curry... the Bengali way. It is usually done with the heads of Rohu or Catla.... which belongs to the Indian Carp family. Back in Kolkata, it was a regular affair at home because there big heads of these fish are sold separately. This particular recipe calls for heads of fish above 5-6 kg weight, and we need not buy such a big whole fish to prepare the dish. God, I miss home in so many ways. 

Here in this island I do it less but I do, the "Bangaliana" of my kitchen has to be maintained. Here we need to buy a whole fish, that too frozen from the selective stores. It is perhaps a mental block for me to do it with sea-fish heads. When it comes to cooking a signature dish, I am particular about maintaining the authenticity. Specifically, I am particular about maintaining the authenticity of a Bengali dish!

Within all these limitations in a foreign land, let us keep cooking our favourite recipes and remember home this way. In both sides of my family, we prefer doing it with "Katla" fish heads as they are more oily than that of a "Rohu". The oil needs to incorporate well in the curry. We need a good quality fragrant rice gobindo bhog / basmati for this dish, specifically gobindo bhog... else you can use Thai fragrant rice too. I have used the kalijeera / chinigura rice available by the groceries run by the Bangladeshi traders! I have used onions too because I am in a different land, if in Bengal, you need not use onions Let us see how we do it.


INGREDIENTS :

Catla / Carp fish head : 1[of bigger fish] [You can use any big fish head]
Gobindo Bhog or Basmati rice : 2tbsp [I used kalijeera / Chinigura rice]
Potato : 2medium [peel, wash, cut each into 4 pieces] [optional]
Ginger Paste : 2tbsp
Cumin Powder : 1tsp
Coriander Powder : 1tsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1tsp
Turmeric Powder : 1tsp
Salt : As required
Sugar : 1tsp[optional]
Onion[sliced] : 2medium
Bengali Garam Masala : 1/2tsp[an equal amount of cinnamon, cardamon, cloves dry roasted and ground]
Bayleaf : 1
Cumin Seed : 1/4tsp
Dry Red Chilli : 2
Cinnamon Stick : 2-3 one inch length
Green Cardamom : 2-3
Cloves : 2-3
Mustard Oil : 1/2 small tea cup

METHOD :

Ask your fish seller to cut the fish head into four pieces, later after frying we will break it further. Wash them thoroughly. Rub with some salt. Keep aside for an hour, then wash thoroughly few times! This helps remove the raw smell from the fish head! Again marinate the fish pieces with salt & turmeric!

Soak the rice for 1/2 an hour. Heat the the oil in a wok. Add some salt and turmeric powder to the potato pieces and fry lightly. Take out and keep aside.

Fry the fish heads nicely, break into smaller pieces and keep aside.

Temper the oil with bay leaf, cumin seeds, halved dry red chillies, cinnamon sticks, green cardamom, cloves. Add the sliced onions and fry till brown. Add the uncooked rice draining the water. Fry for 2 minutes.

Add the ginger paste, remaining turmeric and salt. Stir well for 2-3 minutes. Add the cumin, coriander and red chilli powder, stir for 1minute. Add water and cover to boil.

Open cover after 3-4 minutes, add the fried potato pieces.

When the rice is 70% cooked, add the fried pieces of fish head. Cook covered for 5-8 minutes.

Uncover and add sugar and garam masala. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.

We do not use potatoes in this dish at all times!

Enjoy with steamed hot rice!










3 comments :