Monday, August 31, 2009

Mini Fish Cutlets

Fish cutlet, is one of a kind delicacy of Bengali cuisine with Fish. Fresh fish, first boiled and mashed with potato and then spiced up with little spice and onion-ginger-garlic and then deep-fried coated with breadcrumbs. It is so scrumptious that no one can resist this at anytime. It is served with cucumber-onion-tomato slices and by they side a dollop of kasundi(bengali mustard relish). At Kolkata, you don't need to make it at home, as we get them freshly made in front of you at nearby snack shop at every nookkar or goli or corner. But when you're outside India, to indulge this delicacy, you have to spend some time and energy in your kitchen, but after you taste it, you will feel that it's worth all the energy and time spent. I Made this Mini cutlets for my event Spotlight:Fish, which is ending today. Serve them with tea or as an appetizer in your full meal. This irresistible fish cutlets are must in any bengali wedding menu.


Ingredients :
Bhetki fish(I used seabass, or any white fish) : 4-5 pieces
Potato : 2 (medium)
Onion (medium) : 2 (finely chopped)
Ginger-garlic paste : 2 tblsp.
Garlic cloves : 2(pounded), Ginger : 1"
Black Peppercorns : 6-7
Green chilli : 2 (finely chopped)
Fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
Red chilli powder : 2 tsp.
Chaat masala powder : 1 tblsp.(optional- gives a tangy flavour)/lemon juice : 2 tblsp.
Worcestershire sauce : 4-5 tsp.
Egg : 2(beaten)
Breadcrumbs : as needed(apprx. 1/2-1 cup)
Salt to taste
Butter : 1 tblsp.
Oil for deep frying

Method :
  • First boil the fish pieces. To boil, place the fish in a saucepan and cover it up with water (just enough to cover the fish). Pound the garlic cloves and ginger and add it in the water, along with the peppercorns. Bring it to a boil and cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until the fish is done. Let it cool down.
  • Meanwhile, boil the potatoes too in pressure cooker or anyway you like. Cool and mash them too.
  • Remove the fish from the water, take out the bones and skin. Put all the flesh in a bowl and mash finely.
  • In a pan, heat butter, add chopped onions, fry till brown, add green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, mashed potato, mashed fish, coriander leaves, all dry powders and worcestershire sauce. Add salt to taste. Mix very well stirring vigorously for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for few minutes. Frying fish in the butter will remove any raw fish smell.
  • Make cutlets from the mixture, give shape as desired, round or oval or flat. Take a small lump, press between your palms and flatten them until you get your desired shape. Don't make them too thick, otherwise it won't cook through.
  • Take a flat bowl of beaten eggs with a pinch of salt and another plate of breadcrumbs. Take each cutlet, dip in egg and immediately roll in breadcrumbs. Repeat it once again, dip in egg and roll again in breadcrumbs. This process will make them more crunchy and crispy.
  • Heat the oil for frying in a deep pan or kadai, deep fry the cutlets in batches of 3-4 on a medium heat. When evenly brown on all sides, take out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
  • Serving suggestion : Cut onions, cucumber and tomatoes in thin slices and serve cutlets with them and with your preferred sauce or bengali kasundi. Serve with tea or as an appetizer.
Bengali kasundi recipe is here from my friend, Rashmi of Delhi Belle.
She has a full post on Bengali Kasundi and the pic is also from her blog.

Tips :
  • Make lots of cutlets at one time, fry as much needed and store rest in the freezer for up to a week. This saves a lot of time.
  • When you fry the cutlets in the oil, avoid turning them immediately, they might break.Wait for few minutes and always fry in medium heat.




10 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Cutlets looks tempting, thanks for ur wishes Indrani and i send again my entry through mail, pls do check dear..

Indrani said...

Thanks, priya for this quick comment

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

Cutlets look so tempting... I love it...

lissie said...

delicious fish cutlets! loved the Bengali version... :)

Parita said...

Nice clicks..looks quite crispy!

Sudeshna said...

Indrani,
The fish cutlets look so yummy, I use the same recipe (excepting the frying part) for sandwich fillings. It taste great as sandwich also with a little mayonnaise or cheese.
Thanks for sharing the Kasundi recipe

Indrani said...

Thanks, Oriya food, Lissie, Parita and Sudeshna

Kalyan Karmakar said...

Hi read about the 'fish even't on your blog at Sandeepa's and Sharmila's blog. Would love to know more about this? Kalyan

homes for sale costa rica said...

Hey guys its theme is very interesting and I think we should put more information ... thanks for letting me comment

Unknown said...

Dear Ria,
Your posts serve right – esp, the one, “The Chemistry of food –part 1”! We’ve come way too far losing our relationship with food . It was indeed a ravishing thing to stand your food blog – “Mini fish Cutlets”. We would love to feature your culinary skills on our global platform.

This is an exclusive space for your penmanship, where you can publish your unique culinary outputs in the form of brief food blogs.

That too you’re the one, who’s going to own this space! We would like to pass it on to others by featuring it on our global platform!

http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/food-recipes/poori-indian-puffed-fried-bread_post_7859
http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/food-recipes/chocolate-pie-easy-to-make-pie_post_7854
http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/food-recipes
http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/

Sulekha.US would be glad to present your food blog to the Indian communities living abroad. We would love to connect them through one of the most vital channels i.e. food.

It’s all yours and you’re going to own an exclusive food blog with Sulekha to share your recipes along with their back links. We would promote it across our wall and social media.

Featuring your recipes on our home page would be a perk for our eager Indians, who are waiting for Desi recipes and baked goodies ranging from ‘grand’ to ‘on the go’.

Sharing your passion for cooking might rejuvenate the taste buds and senses of millions of Indians living abroad. We’re awaiting your valuable reply.

Bon Appetite!

Thanks & regards

Hamida, Content Manager, Sulekha US

HasanulhameedhaS@sulekha.net





Appyayan's Fan Box

Appyayan on Facebook

My Followers

 

APPYAYAN | Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial License | Dandy Dandilion Designed by Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates