Got some fresh Bhetki fish few days back, was thinking to make some Kalia, but finally cooked this ‘Poshto Bhetki’ yesterday. I have never tried ‘Poshto Bhetki’ before, neither I ate nor I cooked, but the end result was pretty awesome! So sharing the very new recipe of ‘Poshto Bheki’ (my version of course). Do try and let me know about the outcome.
Poshto Bhetki/ Bhetki fish in spicy poppy seeds gravy
Ingredients
- Bhetki fish- 850g
- Cumin powder- 1 tbsp (hipped)
- Kashmiri mirch powder- ¾ tsp
- Ginger paste- 1 tsp
- Poppy seeds paste- ½ cup (Wash the poppy seeds using a tea strainer under running water. In a mixer add poppy seeds, 1or 2 green chilies and ½ cup of water. Grind until a smooth paste forms. The paste should be thick, not watery. So stop the mixer/grinder in between and keep adding little amount of water if required.)
- Sugar- 1 tbsp
- Salt
- Mustard oil
For tempering:
- Black peppercorn- ½ tsp (roughly crushed)
- Green cardamom- 4 (roughly crushed)
- Cloves- 3-4
- Cinnamon- 1” (two pieces)
- Bay leaf- 1
- Dry red chili- 2 (broken)
For masala paste:
- Onion- 1 big sized
- Tomato- 1 big sized
- Garlic cloves- 12 cloves
- Green Chili- 5-6
Method
In a grinder add onion, garlic, green chilies and tomato. Blend until a smooth paste forms. Keep aside.
Rub salt and a tsp of turmeric powder on the freshly washed pieces of Bhetki. Heat oil in a kadai/deep frying pan and shallow fry the fish pieces. Keep aside. In the remaining oil (5-6 tbsp oil should be there in the kadai, otherwise add some more oil) add dry red chili, bay leaf, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and black pepperecorns. Sauté for few seconds, add the onion-chili-garlic-tomato paste. Mix and fry for 1 minute on medium flame. Add ginger paste, cumin powder, kashmiri mirch powder and salt. Mix well and fry till the oil separates from the masala (2-3 minutes max). Now add the poppy seeds paste. Mix well and add 1¼ cup of water into this. Mix and give this a quick boil on high flame. Next to add the fish pieces. Mix, cover and cook on low flame till the raw smell of the masala goes (15 minutes max). Add sugar. Mix gently. Cook for another 2-3 minutes more.
Your spicy and tasty ‘Poshto Bhetki/Bhetki fish in spicy poppy seeds gravy’ is done. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Note:
Adjust the amount of water according to your choice. Mine was medium thick gravy. If you want thicker gravy reduce the amount of water.
