WHOLE GRILLED FISH

If an ardent rice and fish lover is prescribed by the doctor to have less amount of carbohydrate, she has to omit the rice from most of her meals, remain happy that she has no restrictions about eating fish. Eating fish curry without those white grains is a pain, curries are not soups to be enjoyed alone...we need some kind of bread or rice to have them. Some alternatives had to be planned, the meal need to be satisfying, filling without adding much of carbohydrates to the diet. Perhaps good habits are taking over....be it by force...or for health reasons....at times for a change too.

Besides...we do not get fresh water fish in this island much ... it gets difficult to match our kind of curries to the sea fish found in abundance here. Grown up in a state with rivers, ponds, we are used to fresh water fish, big and small. It was a major problem for me when I first landed here ...what fish to cook? Less were the options. Moreover, two pairs of parents were too concerned about non availability of fresh water fish here. I had to learn alternative ways of having fish to assure them we are having it regularly. You may be laughing but thats the way Bengal...both east and west think.

In the process, I learnt to cook fish in a healthier way...grill, bake, steam. I have seen that this way I can get rid of the smell that sea fish generally have. For an average adult, grilled fish, salad and a hearty bowl of soup should be as filling and healthy without the guilt of wrong eating pattern. Yes, I did use spices but a permissible amount is always welcome.... Yesterday our long lost childhood buddy Ranjan Bose visited us after 30 years....the food platter had to be special. I prepared this grilled whole Sea bass as an appetiser.

INGREDIENTS :

Whole Fish : 1 medium [I used Sea bass]
Lemon Juice : 2-3 tbsp
Garlic Paste : 2tsp
Ginger Paste : 1tsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1/2 tsp

Cumin Powder : 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder : 1/2 tsp
Tandoori Masala Powder : 2 tbsp[ I used store-bought]
Salt : As required
Oil : 2 tbsp 
Coriander Leaves : To Garnish

METHOD :

Clean the stomach and the scales of the fish, wash thoroughly. Pat dry. Make slits on each side. Marinate with water, wash again after 30 minutes.

Marinate the fish again with lemon juice, salt, all the spice powders, ginger & garlic paste, oil thoroughly. Keep aside for at least 2-3 hours.

Mine is a convection mode microwave oven. I greased an oven proof plate, placed the marinated fish on it!

I grilled the whole fish one side for 20 minutes brushing oil every 5 minutes. I turned over and grilled the other side for 10-12 minutes brushing oil every 5 minutes. 

Ovens have different temperature level, adjust the time accordingly.

Squeeze lemon juice over the grilled fish before serving and having!