Degchi
Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry)
Serves 4 · Total 40 min · Prep 15 min · Cook 25 min
Photo: Atudu / CC BY-SA 4.0
A thin, everyday fish curry with potato, tomato and a simple cumin-turmeric base, made with any freshwater fish like rohu or catla. It is the plainest, most frequently cooked fish dish in a Bengali home, eaten with plain rice almost daily.
Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Rohu fish, Potato, Tomato, Turmeric · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 500 g 1.1 lb Rohu fish, cut into steaks
- 2 pc 2 pc Potato, cut into wedges
- 1 pc 1 pc Tomato, chopped
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Turmeric
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Red chilli powder
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Cumin seeds, ground
- 3 pc 3 pc Green chilli
- 3 tbsp 3 tbsp Cooking oil
- to taste to taste Salt
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Coriander, chopped, for garnish (Optional)
Steps
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- Rub the fish steaks with a little turmeric and salt; shallow-fry briefly in the oil until lightly firm, then set aside.⏱ Lightly frying the fish · 4 min
- In the same oil, add the remaining turmeric, red chilli and cumin with a splash of water; cook for a minute.⏱ Frying the paste · 1 min
- Add the chopped tomato and cook until it softens and the oil separates.⏱ Cooking the tomato · 3 min
- Add the potato wedges and enough hot water to make a thin curry; add salt and green chillies and bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer until the potato is tender.⏱ Simmering the curry · 10 min
- Slide the fried fish back in, simmer 3 more minutes, then garnish with coriander and serve.⏱ Finishing · 3 min
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry) take?
40 minutes in total: about 15 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking.
Is Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry) hard to make?
Degchi rates it easy. The method has 6 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry) serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry) halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry)?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: turmeric, red chilli powder, cooking oil, salt. Spice-box items: cumin seeds. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: rohu fish, potato, tomato, green chilli.
Any tips for making Macher Jhol (Everyday Fish Curry)?
Keep the curry thin and brothy — macher jhol is meant to be spooned over rice, not a thick gravy.
Notes and questions
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Cooking terms in this recipe: Haldi (turmeric) · Hari mirch (green chilli)
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