AAR MACHER KUTTI BHAJA (SPICY FRIED AYER FISH)

'Ayer' is a silvery white fish and has a sweet taste. The meat of Ayer is succulent and flaky with very less bones in its body. So, not only me and my husband, kids also like it too much. Bengalis are generally fond of this fish and it can be cooked with various Indian spices. It is little spicy fried fish  (dry version) recipe, you can increase the spice level according to your taste. It takes just 15 minutes to make this heavenly palatable fish dish. Here is the recipe mentioned below:

INGREDIENTS:
300 gm Ayer Fish (aar mach)
1 Medium Onion
4 Pods of Garlic
1 Small Tomato (chopped)
2-3 Green Chillies (as per taste)
1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/3 tsp Red Chilli powder
2 tbsps Fennel seeds (paste)
1/3 tsp Freshly Grounded Garam Masala
1 tbsp Chopped Coriander Leaves
4 tbsps Mustard Oil (any oil)
Salt to taste

METHOD:
Wash fish nicely and cut it in 4 equal pieces.

Sprinkle salt and little turmeric powder on the fish pieces. Mix nicely and set aside for 10-15 minutes.

In the mean time, grind onion, garlic, turmeric powder and green chillies together. Keep it aside.

Heat mustard oil in a wok. Put fish pieces in it. Fry till fish turns into light brown. Now drain out the oil and remove the fish from wok. Set aside.

Now add grounded onion paste, fennel seeds paste, red chilli powder and garam masala in the same oil. Keep stirring continuously and fry till spices leave oil.

Add chopped tomatoes and salt in it. Fry till tomatoes turn mushy.

Put fried fish in it. Fold well, so that all spices coat fish pieces nicely. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Garnish with coriander leaves and switch off the heat now.

Enjoy this scrumptious aar macher kutti bhaja with cooked rice accompanying with dal.