Wednesday 6 May 2015

GRILLED POMFRET IN CORIANDER PASTE



Going back 25 years, a morning in Kolkata, daddy got this fish for the first time to our fresh water fish loving home. Why only our home, it was true with all homes then and in those days our mothers/aunties were a bit averse to experimentation. Daddy was very excited to get something new which was not so heavy on pocket. It still did not get a place besides the very prestigious Hilsa, Barramundi, Long whiskered cat fish, Katla or Pabda. Mom was visibly unhappy, she never knew how to cook it. Naturally when she made a curry with it, we could not have it, found it extremely smelly. That was because the community was not used to having sea fish. Gradually mom learnt that cooking this fish needs use of onion n garlic. She used to marinate it with masalas and deep fried coated in a batter. Otherwise I could not have it. Within few years the price of pomfret sore high in Kolkata markets, perhaps because the middle range restaurants / hotels could not afford using bhetki for the fish fries and started substituting it with pomfret. Bengal is in love with fish fries. Now its one of the high priced fish in the Kolkata market.

The primitive me still find it difficult to have it. My family loves, so I cook. The other day I got very fresh ones in the nearby supermarket which has counters for fresh fish too. This island is a fish loving nation. It was a weekday evening and I preferred to marinate them in a masala paste and grill. This was an easier option for me. We can have it with a good serving of salads.

INGREDIENTS :
Pomfret : 4
Coriander Paste : 1/2 cup
Garlic Paste : 1tsp
Green Chilli Paste : 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder : 1 tsp
Coriander Powder : 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice : 4 tbsp
Salt : As required
Oil : 2 tbsp

METHOD :
Clean n wash the pomfrets. Make slits on both sides with a knife.

Marinate with the lemon juice and salt for 1/2 an hour. Discard the excess water.

Add rest of the ingredients and mix well. Marinate for 1-2 hours.

Rub little oil on your grill. Place the fish on it.

Grill one side for 10 minutes. Flip over and grill the other side for another 8 minutes.

You can brush little oil and marinade in between.



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