SARANGYA CHE BHUJANE

Pathare Prabhu community ‘s comfort food is Bhujane…….. This simple tasty recipe can be made from ingredients generally available in Indian homes and is ready in a very short time…… Bhujane can be also made with eggs, prawns, Ravas fish, Ghol fish as also vegetables like potatoes……… Pomfret is called Saranga in Marathi language.

INGREDIENTS : 3 small pomfrets, 2 onions, 1 tsp ginger paste, 1 tbsp garlic paste, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tsp red chilli powder, a pinch of asafoetida, few sprigs coriander, 2 green chillies, salt to taste, 2 tbsp oil.

DIRECTIONS : Clean pomfrets thoroughly and cut into two pieces…… Chop the onions, green chillies and coriander finely……. Except the fish, mix all the ingredients in the cooking pan……. Crush all the ingredients with hand for at least 8-10 minutes till a homogenous paste is obtained…….. Add as much water as is required to wash the hand crushing the ingredients……. Now add in the pomfret pieces and coat with the masala…… Cook on high flame and bring me his to a boil…….. As soon as it boils, turn the heat down…….. Cover the pan with lid……. Cook on slow flame till the fish is done…….. Remove the lid, tilt and turn the pan so that the whole thing comes together……. Don’t stir with ladle……. Switch off the flame….. Cover with lid and let the curry cool down a bit…….Serve with steaming hot rice.

NOTE : Instead of small pomfrets, a big pomfret can be used…….. Chillies can be increased/ decreased according to taste…….. Crushing of the mixture with hand is a must otherwise the resultant curry will be runny……… Don’t stir with ladle as it could break the fish.

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EAST INDIAN COMMUNITY STYLE FISH MOILE

Konkan region, particularly Mumbai, is surrounded by beautiful coastline…… So the East Indian Community have a special liking for seafood….. Whether it is fresh catch or dry ones (During monsoon, fish is not available easily)), they prepare wonderful seafood dishes.

INGREDIENTS : 4 small pomfrets, 3-4 onions, 1/2″ ginger, 6-8 cloves garlic, 2-3 green chillies, 1 lemon, 1 tbsp East Indian bottle masala, salt & vinegar to taste, water, oil.

DIRECTIONS : Clean and wash pomfrets…… Apply salt and lemon juice…… Keep aside……. Slice the onions in rounds….. Cut ginger, garlic, green chillies lengthwise….. Heat oil….. Fry the fish….. Keep aside….. Sauté sliced onion rounds…… After sometime add green chillies, ginger, garlic…… Sauté till onions are brown…… Add in the bottle masala powder and water (about half cup)….. Simmer….. Now add salt & vinegar…..Simmer…. Add the fried fish and cover….. Cook till done….. Serve hot with rice.

NOTE : Instead of small pomfrets, one can use one medium sized pomfret (sliced)….. Vinegar can be increased/decreased according to taste….. Water can be increased/decreased depending on amount of gravy required.

EAST INDIAN STYLE STUFFED POMFRET

East Indian community name for Pomfret is Sarga……. This dish is generally had on special occasions….. Can be served as starter as well as side dish.

INGREDIENTS : 3-4 small pomfrets, 1 lemon, 2 tomatoes , 1-2 onions, 6-8 cloves garlic, 1″ginger, 2-3 green chillies, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp East Indian bottle masala, a bunch of coriander leaves, salt to taste, little flour, oil for frying.

DIRECTIONS : Make sideways slit of the pomfret in such a way that a cavity is formed so that the stuffing can be entered….. Wash the fish…. Apply salt & lemon juice and keep aside.

For the stuffing, chop tomatoes……. Make a paste of onions, garlic, ginger, green chillies, coriander leaves….. Heat a tbsp of oil….. Sauté the tomatoes…… Add turmeric powder, pepper powder & East Indian bottle masala ….. Sauté…… Add the paste and salt…… Cook till done and almost dry…..  Keep the stuffing aside to cool.

Stuff the Pomfrets with the stuffing….. With the leftover stuffing rub the outside of the fish. 

Heat oil….. Apply flour and fry till golden on both sides….. Serve hot.

NOTE : Instead of small Pomfrets one can use big ones….. Semolina/rice flour can be used instead of flour……To get a different dish, one can wrap stuffed pomfret in banana leaf and steam/fry.