Kajoli Fish With Aubergine. Bashpata Mach Diye Begun.

Kajoli or Bashpata fish
Cooked with aubergines

Kajoli Mach, also called Kajli, Kajuli, Kajali or Bashpata is a very delicate fish and tastes sublime. its cooked here using aubergines in a light thick sauce that adheres to the fish and aubergines in a tantalising authentic curry. The aubergines just melt in your mouth, the creaminess just adding a sublime texture to each mouthfull.

Frozen kajoli fish block

Kajoli fish is also known as Gangetic Ailia, a fresh water fish which belongs to the catfish family. This fish is typically available and popular in the Indian subcontinent.

Kajoli fish in the Uk is found in a frozen block form. It requires defrosting and thoroughly cleaning with salt but handled gently.

Defrosting in water

It has to be cooked with care since a delicate fish like Kajoli /bashpata breaks very easily. This fish is more commonly known by its name Bashpata, in reference to its appearence, that of a bamboo leaf!

It has 1 long skeletal bone that can be easily removed in one when cooked. Like most of the freshwater catfishes, bashpata mach can be cooked with or without frying. Me, I choose my method based on ingredients I use. With vegetables I pre fry. If not I mix with spices and cook all in one with fresh garnish of coriander which goes well.

I have used Nigella seeds for tempering . Nigella seeds have an awesome chemistry with onion-fish preparations. When these three ingredients meet, it smells divine. Add to that aubergine, another pairing of Nigella seeds, you know you have something special.

If you are a fish lover like me then I am sure you won’t need any other sides to complete your meal. You must try this recipe!

INGREDIENTS

1 frozen block of Kajoli/Bashpata fish
1 aubergine cut into thinish strips
1 small onion finely chopped
2 green chillies finely sliced
1 tsp Nigella seeds (kalijeera)
1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp tumeric powder
2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder

Pre Prep for fish and aubergine.

Rinse the fish clean once defosted.
Add turmeric, salt and chilli powder.
Mix in and set aside.

Turmeric, chilli powder and salt
Mixed in well
Set aside

Slice the aubergines into thinish slices.

1 med aubergine
Thinish slices

Sprinkle turmeric and salt on aubergines and set aside.

Mixed with turmeric and salt

Heat some veg oil in a non stick wok/karai.
Add the aubergines and fry till they are golden brown. Don’t stir too much as they can disintergrate. Remove and set aside.

Heat oil well
Fry aubergines till caramel

In the same pan and oil add the fish. The fish is extremely delicate so leave it and just turn once. It does not matter if they stick to each other,  just give a few mintes on each side.

Fry fidh gently


Move your pan to shuffle them and use a palate knife to turn.

Shuffle pan
Use palate knife to turn once

Once lightly fried remove and set aside with the aubergines.

Set aside

Mix the turmeric, cumin, coriander and chilli powder in a bowl with a few tablespoons of water to make a paste.

Measure spices
Add water
Make thin paste

METHOD FOR CURRY:

In the same pan add oil so that you have approximately quarter cup of oil. When hot add the nigella seeds and green sliced chillies wait till just aromatic.

Nigella seeds and slit green chillies

Add the onions and fry till they become a little golden.

Onions
Fry till golden

Add salt and spice paste. Cover and simmer till oil splits.

Add spice paste and salt
Cook out spices

Continue to cook on low for few minutes till spices become dryer and more oil separating.

Till oil splits

Now add a cup of water, bring to boil.

Add water
Bring to boil

Add the aubergines and fish. Bring to boil then reduce to a simmer.

Add fish and aubergines

Cook covered till sauce has reduced and you have a creamy sauce.

Simmer till sauce reduces

Remove from heat and let it settle for about 5 minutes.

Serve this with plain white rice and you will be amazed by the taste of this deceptively simple Bengali fish curry!


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