Bele Maacher Jhal

"Mache Bhate Bangali", which means - fish and rice is what makes a Bengali, so true as the staple diet of a Bengali is fish and rice. Many varieties of fishes are found in Bengal. One such fish is Bele Fish or Sand Goby, it is one of the popular & extremely tasty freshwater fish. It is native to freshwater streams and rivers. This fish is rarely sold in Mumbai. I had heard the name of this fish, but never tasted it, I got this fish from Chembur Market. It’s indeed a very tasty fish.

Ingredients
6 pieces of Bele Maach / Sand Goby
1 big size Onion sliced
1 big size Tomato sliced
4 Green Chilli cut into half lengthwise
Few Coriander leaves chopped for garnishing
1 tbsp Ginger - Garlic coarsely ground
4 tbsp Mustard and Poppy seed paste
1/2 tsp Panch Phoran
Salt to taste
1 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp Chilli powder
1/2 cup Mustard Oil

Method
Marinate the fish with salt and 1/2 tsp Turmeric for 10 minutes. Pour oil into a wok. Let it heat. Fry the fish until light brown in colour. Remove the fish from the oil, keep it aside. Remove the extra oil from the wok, leave only 3 tbsp of oil in the wok. Add the panch phoran. Let it crackle. Add the onions and sauté it for a minute. Add the ginger - garlic. Continue to sauté for a minute. Add the tomato. Stir and continue to cook for a minute. Add the mustard - poppy seeds paste. Stir and cook for another minute. Add the salt, turmeric powder and chilli powder. Stir for few seconds. Add 1 cup of water. Stir and cover. Let it simmer for 2 minutes. Open the lid, add the fried fish and green chillies. Cover and cook for another minute. Switch off the flame. Open the lid and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve it hot with hot steaming rice.