• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sinfully Spicy
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
×

Home » Non Vegetarian

Bengali Macher Jhol

Published: Jul 1, 2021 · Modified: Nov 4, 2021 by Tanvi · This post may contain affiliate links

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Bengali Macher Jhol.A light spicy fish curry perfect for summer months. For us indians, curries are year round, isn't? Depending on the season, I switch between lighter or richer preparations and these days I am mostly making soupy tomato or yogurt based ones. 

Turmeric rubbed fish steaks(I used fresh asian sea bass) shallow fried in virgin mustard oil are added to a nigella and bay leaf scented gravy which gets a kick from grassy green chillies. The flavors are so bright and different from the punjabi fish curry I grew up eating, but really perfect for the hot months.  

You can use any kind of fish that you normally use for curries - salmon or carp work well. I sometimes make it with frozen baramundi or snapper fillets as well. This curry can be made in a jiffy and tastes awesome with some steamed white rice. Sometimes potatoes or eggplants are added for a nice variation and always allow it to rest for 20-30 minutes for the best flavors.

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Bengali Macher Jhol

A light spicy fish curry from the eastern parts of india.
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time25 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

To prep the fish

  • 1.5 lb (about 750g) sea bass(or rohu or salmon) cleaned and cut into steaks
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt

For the Jhol

  • ¼ cup mustard oil
  • ½ tsp nigella seeds
  • 3 thai bird green chillies, slit
  • ⅓ cup onion paste (simply grind onion in a blender using as less water as possible)
  • 2 garlic cloves ,pounded in mortar pestle
  • ½ tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 medium tomato chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • 1.5 cups hot water
  • ¾ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, add the fish, sprinkle salt and turmeric and rub on the pieces very well. Let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, add the powdered spices and mix ith 2-3 tablespoon of water. Keep ready.
  • Add the mustard oil to a heavy wok or kadai and let heat up till slightly smoky.
  • Carefully, slide the fish into the oil and shallow fry for 2 minutes on each side. Remove from oil and place in a plate.
  • In the remaining oil, crackle the bay leaf, nigella and green chillies for 30 seconds.
  • Add the onion paste next and on medium heat, brown for about 3 minutes. Once browned add the ginger and garlic and fry for a minute. Add the powdered spices paste next, a splash of water and fry the spices for 2-3 minutes untill you see that the oil starts seperating.
  • Next add the tomato, sugar and salt and fry for 2 minutes till the tomatoes have softened.
  • Add hot water to the masala and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the stove and let simmer for 2 minutes. Add the fried fish to the gravy along with any oil thats leftover in the plate in which you kept the fish. Taste and adjust the salt once.
  • Let everything cook for 6-8 minutes untill the fish is cooked through. Remive from stove and mix in the lime juice. Let rest for atleast 20 minutes. Serve with steamed rice.

More Non Vegetarian

  • Chicken Bhuna Masala
  • Keema Masala
  • Amritsari Fish (Indian Fried Fish)
  • Spicy Indian Baked Salmon

Filed Under: Non Vegetarian Tagged With: Easy Recipe, Fats and Oils/Tel, indian food, indian food blogs, indian spices, Recipe from blogs, Spices & Seasonings/Masaale

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen

    July 02, 2021 at 6:09 am

    Love a fish curry, and this looks delicious!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Tanvi! If you love Indian food, you are at the right place, browse through hundreds of delicious Indian recipes

More about me ?

Popular

  • Chicken Hakka Noodles
  • Methi Dal
  • Egg Pulao
  • Urad Dal Khichdi
  • Aloo Bharta
  • Til Mawa Roll (Makar Sankranti Recipe)
  • Badam Milk
  • Besan Ki Barfi
  • Brownie Trifle
  • Masala Chai Tiramisu
  • Schezwan Paneer Tart
  • Hariyali Chicken
  • Potato Sandwich (Aloo Masala Sandwich)
  • Moong Dal Khichdi (With Palak)
  • Paneer Lababdar - Creamy Paneer Curry
  • Easy Rabdi Recipe

Footer

back to top

About

  • Recipe Index

Subscribe

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Sinfully Spicy