FISH KABIRAJI

FISH WITH COVERAGE.....popularly known as Fish Kabiraji in Kolkata. It took me 24 years to know that fish kabiraji is actually fish with coverage. Before that I used to wonder how come such a tasty piece of fish fried and then folded in a fried batter of egg can be called Kabiraji. It is an alternative medical practice promoting herbs and vegetables in our diet, also claiming to cure ailments. I could not really match the two. Then, one day my then would be husband told me it is fish within a coverage of egg. Gosh! May be invented during the British Rule of India and the name degenerated from coverage to Kabiraji later. Authenticity of the fact is not known.

Down memory lane, thinking about fish kabiraji, I find myself with my dear pals at the famous COFFEE HOUSE. This is not a regular restaurant....situated in the midst of colleges and book shops, it is a place for many evolving ideas, where writers, poets, professors and students can be seen together. Once you are in....you can hear all sorts of talks....from latest Bollywood movie to idealism, socialism.....World Politics....a place of peaceful coexistence of the intellectuals and brats like us. Amidst this, I find myself sitting with my friends, talking nonsense, taking heavenly bites on my kabiraji cutlet. I remember one of our professor caught us one day and yelled .... "I think you have a class now, how come you are here?" We, the desperate young brats did not listen to him....he is no more.... as told by my friends. There is a phase in life we become this annoying. Once in college, the mother too bought us fish or chicken or mutton cutlets from Adi Malancha Kormibrindo on some days, we would bring home for the brother, the father rarely liked outside food, in his heart he was in East Pakistan / Bangladesh until his last day. The rest of us three loved India, city life, he did not buy a home in the city, at least in DumDum. With her limited resources, the mother did buy us our favourites. The father was a good human being though. My man and the son enjoy this kind of restaurant like food, I am more than happy to cook for them all these.

We get three types of kabiraji cutlets in Kolkata.....Fish, Mutton and Chicken. Kolkata residents spread throughout the world must be missing Kolkata street foods and snacks. In solidarity with them, I felt like sharing this recipe of Fish Kabiraji and also wish to acquaint the rest of the world with a tasty snack. It is done with Bhetki fish fillets. Sea-bass perhaps belong to the same species. I used frozen Tilapia fillets. Normally fish fillets are marinated in a spice mix and fried, then folded in a fried batter of egg. It's quite a labour but worth it.... we are not doing it every day. We are always at a liberty to make some addition and subtraction.

INGREDIENTS:

Fish Fillet[any firm white fish] : 7-8
Lemon Juice : 5-6 tbsp
Green Chilli Paste : 1 tbsp
Fresh Coriander Paste : 4-5 tbsp
Salt : As required
Garlic Paste : 1tbsp
Ginger Paste : 1tsp

Black Pepper Powder : 1/2 tsp
Cornflour : 1tbsp
All Purpose Flour : 1tbsp
Egg : 3 + 2
Breadcrumb : 150 gm
Chaat Masala : To sprinkle on the finished cutlets
Oil : As required to deep fry 

METHOD :

Wash fish fillets, marinate with salt, keep aside for few minutes, wash again thoroughly. 

Prepare a paste with the washed green chillies, fresh coriander leaves, add to the washed fish fillets along with the lemon juice, ginger & garlic pastes, salt as required, black pepper powder. Fold in well, keep covered for 2-3 hours.

Beat 2 eggs in a bowl and the bread crumbs on a plate. Dip each of the fish fillets in the egg batter, then coat well with the bread crumb. Repeat the process. Refrigerate them for few hours.

Beat together the cornflour and 3 eggs, black pepper powder in a bowl, keep aside. Take out the uncooked fish fries from refrigerator. Fry them in batches, take out, place onto tissue papers.

With your fingers, spread the egg-cornflour batter like a thin sheet on the oil which need not be too hot. Place each cutlet, fold and take out. This was the toughest part for me.

Serve & have them with Kashundi[mango-mustard sauce] & Salad [sosha-peyaz kuchi]. Do not forget to get tea or coffee.