SPICED FISH & CHIPS

I AM BUSY THIS WEEK BUT BLOGPOSTS SHOULD COME IN TIME!

There is no compulsion, I just enjoy the exercise! What else fruitful do I do? It hurts! I don't find myself eligible enough to seek job! What to do with computer I don't know, I fear! I only know to write blogpost, search stuffs! How I wasted our father's hard earned money taking admission at British Institutes, Dalhousie Square! That was early 90's I remember! It's 2023, fear continues! Except for literature, Sociology, History, Psychology; no textual subject interests me! Why did I study Political Science I don't know! I was good employee for school managements I worked for until work was done manually, kids learnt by rote! The moment computer took over, I felt like not fitting in! Yet the last school I worked at wanted me, I had feeling of inadequacy, I left! If I didn't leave, I might have learnt technology required for my job! They weren't letting me teach my choice of subjects! My readers know these, because I met an ex-colleague yesterday, all wrong decisions taken in academics was felt again! To top that, it was hot last night, that lingering neck, shoulder pain added to pain! Don't know what more Kolkata weather has to give me! I am not bothering much, I would meet my family, friends, doctors, one month would go! I hear people are staying indoor there, this angers me! I visit Kolkata once a year, I should be able to go out freely, roam around!

I AM BASICALLY A LAZY BRAT!

Else no excuse is strong enough not to earn independently in present day! Who ever we are, what ever the family situation is, we must earn! We must unless family owns a company, everyone in family are given some position in it! I liked it how Messi's entire family is involved in making him! I like how parents spotted his talent, struggled to get him here, now when it is paying back time, the star is doing it royally! The middle-class that I am, I have no idea amount of money he earns, but I like it that his entire family including in-laws are part of his empire! At this time, my only aim, urge is to get our son educated, get job without disturbance; its required for him to outgrow his family! Also, he has to live his father's dream wherein academics is concerned! Until my death, I would believe T had to have lot more degrees before plunging onto job! He had capability; every child with fair brain should get opportunity to attain higher education! Also, those with average brain should be at least graduate! Else, this world may not be able to move forward! I get involved in these discussions by default, our mother, grandmother respect academics! If by academics they mean degrees after degrees, be it; what is the harm? It has been proved time & again degrees are important, let us not equate it with wealth one has attained! Two are different, both are required for good life! How I wished brother to have that urge to do better in life, he had the capability too! Mumma sleeps well because son has this urge, only that she cannot be at peace having a mental ailment called anxiety!

WHAT IS THIS SPICED FISH & CHIPS?

I am too fond of traditional fish & chips! I am fond of fish, choice of breaded meat fries, okay batter fries too unless I get to see oil on top layer! For long, I did not know Kolkata Caterers' style "fish butter fry" is actually 'fish batter fry"! I am too fond of fries & fritters, even Kolkata street vendor's lentil fritters! But I do not eat out much whilst in Kolkata, I fear stomach ailments, I hear about unbearable heat there! Also, fries of Malancha have lost pride! The parents did not take us to eat out much, I hardly would want to travel to Mitra Cafe or Allen's Kitchen or Golbari! Truly speaking; on this day, I cook a meat or fish fry at home; well cleaned & marinated! I would stick to that! Only that, I don't get to feed exotics to my family, friends in Kolkata; I do not enjoy working hard there; I just want to roam around there; have Bhelpuri, Chitrakut, Mishti Doi, Biryani, Patties, Pastries! But Kolkata cakes seem too sweet to me! The stomach refuses too much of outside food! You can blame it on both poor digestive system, taking pride in in cooking! If I buy Moglai Porota at 4-5 pm, who would share it with me? Then, those flies, dust, water logging! Listen to me, try my style SPICED FISH & CHIPS! No restaurant would wash fillets this well, marinate them this good, actual recipe does not call for mixed spices marination! It is non-vegetarian, fish fillet snack recipe which West eat as main dish along with French fries! But you can see, I did the plating differently! At this point, I left home for Kushi's, Hougang! There was long queue for Hari Raya, also I forgot to take card! The girls told me there would be long queues until weekend! I had my first meal, "bhaja bhuji", all veg items & tehC! Just because I missed asking for teh-C-kosong, they added sugar!

As first meal, it is poison to have but I wanted it this way! On my way back, I walked 6:5 km that took 1hr15 minutes! The "sheem" were too young! On my walk, assisting me was an old time favourite, 'main na bhulunga, main na bhulungi"! "samay ki dhara mein, umar bah jani hai, jo ghari ji lenge, woh reh jani hai!" I have to learn this song!

INGREDIENTS :

FIRM WHITE FISH FILLET : 7-8 

RED CHILLI POWDER : 1 TSP

CRUSHED BLACK PEPPER : 1 TSP

CUMIN POWDER : 1 TSP

CORIANDER POWDER : 1 TSP

CHAAT MASALA : 1 TSP

GINGER EXTRACT : 2 TBSP

GARLIC EXTRACT : 2 TBSP

SALT : AS REQUIRED

REFINED FLOUR : 1 SMALL TEA CUP

CORN FLOUR : 1/2 SMALL TEA CUP

OIL : 200 ML OR ENOUGH TO DEEP FRY

PROCEDURE : 

Today is 2nd April, 2026, I updated pictures! I bought frozen Sutchi fillet packet from Giant!

Originally, I did with Nile pre-cut fillets!

Previously, I bought from Fairprice Xtra, it's good for batter & breaded fries!

I washed fish fillets, marinated with salt for an hour, then washed thoroughly! This is done to get rid of any smell!

 

I marinated fish fillets with crushed black pepper, salt, lemon juice, ginger, garlic extracts! Then I refrigerator for 3-4 hours, covered! Take out half an hour before frying!

For batter, I took refined flour, corn flour, chilli+cumin+coriander powders+chaat masala+salt in bowl, mixed well! I added water little at a time, prepared thick batter! I kept it aside for 10-15 minutes!

I heated enough oil in wok, dipped each of marinated fish fillet in batter, coated well, deep fried at low heat, else inside wouldn't be done properly!

 

I don't deep fry, hence look isn't good! I kept them onto tissue papers before serving, having!

Instead of deep frying potatoes, I air fried, boiled corn, made chaat!