Aar Maacher Jhol (Aiyer fish curry)

Posted by: Mala D

The purists may look down upon Aar maach as a fish fit only for kids but it has many takers, including my husband & my son. True, it's really easy to feed it to children as it has less bones still adult supervision is always necessary when feeding fish to little children.

Ingredients:
Aar fish: 5-6 pieces,about 750gms
Potato: 2 medium-sized
Tomato: 1 medium
Onion: 1 large
Ginger: 2 inches
Green chillies: 2-3 sliced
Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
Bayleaf: 2 nos
Mustard oil: 4-5 tbsp
Salt: to taste
Turmeric powder: 2 tsp
Red chilli powder: 2 tsp
Cumin powder: 1/2 tsp

Method:
Wash fish pieces properly, apply salt & turmeric & keep aside.
Peel & chop potatoes into small cubes. Roughly chop onion & ginger & grind them into a paste. Finely chop tomato.
Heat oil in a deep & wide pan & when it smokes, lower flame & fry the fish pieces well. Take out with a slotted spoon & keep aside. In the same oil fry the potato pieces well & take them out. Now add jeera & bay leaves to the oil & when they splutter, add the onion-ginger paste. Add a little salt & keep mixing & turning from time to time, so they don't stick to the pan. Add tomato & fry well. Now mix in the potato cubes & saute for a while. Add more salt & the spices & keep stirring. Add about 2 glass of water,mix well & now add the fish. Bring to a boil , then lower flame, cover & cook till done. Garnish with chopped corriander leaves.

Note: you can also make this curry without onion using tomato-ginger paste, if you cook the fish the same day as it's bought otherwise always make it with onion & other masala as stated in the recipe.