Indian Mustard Fish Food

GOAN FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Place Curry Paste ingredients in a tall jug or milkshake container (something that fits the head of a blender stick) then blitz on high for 5 to 10 seconds until the onion is pureed. Add more water if needed to make it puree.
• Sizzle black mustard seeds: Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add black mustard seeds and let them sizzle for 30 seconds - careful, they might pop!
• Saute onion: Add red onion and cook for 3 minutes until edges start to tinge with gold.
• Cook off curry paste: Add curry paste and cook for 3 minutes - to evaporate water, make spices bloom and cook garlic & ginger.
• Cook off tomato: Turn heat up to medium high. Add tomato paste and tomato pulp, cook for 2 minutes.
• Coconut milk: Add water, coconut milk, sugar, salt and chilli powder if using. Stir, then bring to simmer, low heat so it's bubbling gently.
• Simmer 2 minutes, add tomato & green chilli: Simmer for 2 minutes, add tomato and green chilli.
• Simmer 3 minutes: Simmer for another 3 minutes, stirring every now and then - sauce should be thickened (not watery), it gets looser again when fish is added (because fish will drop some juices = even more flavour!).
• Add fish: Add fish, stir, cook for 3 to 4 minutes until fish easily flakes.
• Garnish & serve: Remove from stove and transfer to serving bowl. Garnish with coriander/cilantro and fresh green chillies if desired. Serve with basmati rice!

MUSTARD-ROASTED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. (You can also use an ovenproof baking dish.) Place the fish fillets skin side down on the sheet pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Combine the creme fraiche, 2 mustards, shallots, capers, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Spoon the sauce evenly over the fish fillets, making sure the fish is completely covered. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until it's barely done. (The fish will flake easily at the thickest part when it's done.) Be sure not to overcook it! Serve hot or at room temperature with the sauce from the pan spooned over the top.

BENGALI MUSTARD FISH

Steps:

• In a bowl, marinate the fish in 1/4 tsp turmeric and a good pinch of salt, tossing to coat, then set aside. Using a spice grinder or a pestle and mortar, grind the mustard seeds to a fine powder. Put the tomato, garlic, 2 or 3 green chillies, the powdered mustard seeds, 1/2 tsp turmeric, a pinch of salt and 150ml water in the small bowl of a food processor and blitz to a smooth paste.
• Heat 3 tbsp of the mustard oil in a medium-sized non-stick pan until smoking, then take off the heat and wait for 30 secs. Add the nigella seeds to the pan and allow to sizzle for 10 secs, then add the paste. Cook over a medium heat, stirring occasionally, until all the excess liquid has evaporated and the paste releases its oil. Lower the heat and continue cooking for another 4 mins or so, until it darkens a little. Add 400ml water and the remaining chillies, bring to a boil and simmer for 7-8 mins until it has a medium consistency, not too watery. Check the seasoning and keep on a low heat while you fry the fish.
• Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan until smoking. Add the fish and fry on all sides for around 6 mins until golden brown. Add the fish to the mustard sauce, bring back to the boil and cook for 2 mins. Sprinkle on the coriander leaves and serve with rice, if you like.

SALMON IN A BENGALI MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the fish into pieces that are about 2" x 1" and rub them evenly with the salt, turmeric, and cayenne. Cover and set aside in the refrigerator for 30 minutes-10 hours. Put the mustard powder, cayenne, turmeric, and salt in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon water and mix thoroughly. Add another 7 tablespoons water and mix. Set aside.
• Pour the oil into a medium frying pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the mustard seeds. As soon as they start to pop, a matter of seconds, add the cumin and fennel seeds. Stir once and quickly pour in the mustard paste. Add the green chilies, stir, and bring to a gentle simmer. Place the fish pieces in the sauce in a single layer. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes, or until the fish is just cooked through, spooning the sauce over the fish all the time.

INDIAN FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Mix the mustard, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons of canola oil in a shallow bowl. Add the fish fillets, turning to coat. Marinate the fish in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Combine the onion, garlic, ginger, and cashews in a blender or food processor and pulse until the mixture forms a paste.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 1 tablespoon of canola oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in the prepared paste; cook and stir for a minute or two. Add the cayenne pepper, turmeric, cumin, coriander, 1 teaspoon salt, and sugar. Cook and stir for an additional five minutes. Stir in the chopped tomato and vegetable broth.
• Arrange the fish fillets in a baking dish, discarding any extra marinade. Top the fish with the sauce, cover the baking dish, and bake in the preheated oven until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped cilantro.