Ab Tera Kya Hoga Kalia

Richa loves fish. She also digs Aloo Posto & Payesh. Today is her birthday & I am wondering if I can make her some Maachher Kalia, Bengali-style fish curry in potatoes & pea gravy. Ideally, I should have cooked all. But with a fast life-I really need to type fast- & a packed schedule- cook, click pics, write; see places, click pics, write; think, don't click pics but still write- I will settle for the Kalia.
                                                                                                This is our Bangalore Richa. (There is a namesake in London). She is a designer par excellence, has the sexiest tattoo among all our friends, & is an affectionate, happy-go-lucky person. Richa is the decision maker when we want to eat out in Bangalore, she knows all about the food joints in the silicon valley.  
                                                        
Let me get going with the Maachher Kalia before it's too late. Join me in, folks.


We need:

1. 5-6 pieces of fish(rohu/katla)
2. 2 large boiled potatoes- cubed(see pic for shape)
3. 1/4 cup Green Peas 

4. 1 medium onion- grated
5. 1 medium tomato- grated/purée
6. 1 1/2 tsp adrak, zeera, dhania paste
7. 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
8. 2-3 bay leaves
9. 1tsp garam masala paste/powder
10 1tsp ghee
11. 1 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
12. 1/2 tsp sugar
13. Salt - to taste
14. Oil- to cook

How to :
1. Put 1 tsp salt & 1tsp turmeric powder & let fish pieces sit for 5-10 mins.
    The turmeric neutralizes the fishy smell & the salt makes the fish tender.


2. Wash the pieces to clean the turmeric & salt marination. 
    Put fresh salt & turmeric powder in the hot oil, shallow fry the fish & keep aside.


3. In the same oil, crackle cumin seeds, add bay leaf & saute for a minute. 
Add the grated onion, fry well. 
Add the adrak,zeera, dhania paste in the onion till you get the aroma. Add turmeric powder & fry for a minute.
Add grated tomato the next & fry it well with the above masala.

Grandma's Whisper: Fry the masala in the order suggested. The raw masala smell in a ready dish is an absolute put off.


 4. Add the boiled potato cubes in the masala & stir for 2-3 mins.
 Add the peas, sugar, salt & mix well. Add water & bring to boil.


5. Add the fried fish pieces & let simmer on high for 5-7 minutes. Keep gravy as you like.

6. Add ghee & garam masala, boil for 2 mins & remove from flame.


Kalia goes best with plain rice.                                            

Happy Birthday, Richa! Enjoy the day. Enjoy the fish. Tell me it's yum. And ask Dadi to do the rest for you :)