FISH IN BLACK PEPPER SAUCE

FISH.... the word gives goosebumps to me.... true to maximum of Bengalis. In my current city, variety of fish is available, they are all sea fish. Bengal is a state surrounded by rivers, ponds. Hence, our taste buds are more accustomed to freshwater fish. Here fresh water fish are mostly available in frozen form. With kids at home we cannot always take liberty to eat frozen stuffs. In a foreign land, our choice of fish gets limited. Given our love for fish, we would find some way or other to satisfy our taste buds. I finally felt it is wiser to adapt to changed circumstances at least to some extent.

From expert food bloggers, I learnt any smelly fish, if marinated in vinegar or lemon juice for at least an hour, then washed, cooked, does not smell anymore. With all my tried and tasted recipes on fish, I have seen if we use onion, garlic , curry made with smelly fish can taste good. That too family eats, I do not!Yes, you are right, with availability  of fresh water fish in abundance, Bengalis like us do not use much of onion, garlic in fish curries except for in few dishes.

This FISH IN BLACK PEPPER SAUCE is favourite with my men. They love it either as an appetiser or as non vegetarian side. I prepare such dishes mainly on Friday evenings when my refrigerator is almost vacant preparing to welcome fresh stuffs next morning. This dish is prepared with minimal ingredients. You can however use all types of bell peppers. The day I prepared this, I had these few things available in kitchen .... yet the end product was tasty.

             

INGREDIENTS :

Boneless Fish Fillet ( I used Sutchi ) : 500 gm.
Minced Garlic : 1 table spoon
Minced Ginger : 1 tsp
Onion : 1
Green Chillies : 4 - 5
Soy Sauce (light) : 1tbsp
Black Pepper Sauce : 2 tsp [I prepared mine mixing chilli-tomato sauce+crushed black pepper+dark soy sauce]
Salt : As Required
Lemon Juice : 2 tsp
Corn flour : 3 tbsp
Oil : 4 tbsp

PROCEDURE :

Wash fish fillets thoroughly, cut into small squares, marinate with lemon juice, light soy sauce, salt, crushed black pepper! Keep aside for an hour.

Meanwhile cut onions, red bell peppers into small cubes. Slit green chillies. Get ready with minced garlic, chillies.

Add corn flour to fish after discarding marinade, coat well!

Heat oil in wok. Coat fish pieces well in corn flour. Fry in batches. Please do not over fry them.

Keep fish pieces onto tissue paper to drain excess oil. Now pour excess oil in wok keeping only 1 tsp in it. Once oil is hot, add minced garlic and ginger, sauté till you get fragrance. 

Add onion cubes. Sauté until translucent, add slitted green chillies, black pepper sauce, little salt!

Increase heat. Sauté for 3 minutes. Pour soy sauce. Stir for a minute. Now add fish pieces. Stir fry carefully so they do not break.

Now pour in a little corn flour mixed water. Stir fry in high heat for a minute. It's done. 

Transfer to a bowl, serve hot as an appetiser or as side with steamed Jasmine rice /  noodles.