Mummy's Mustard Macchi

This is a fish curry dedicated to mustard lovers. Inspired by Bengali cuisine, this is Mummy's favourite fish recipe, loved by the entire family.

Ingredients

Any fresh water fish like Kingfish or Rohu - sliced 250 g

Turmeric powder - 1 tsp

Red Chilli Powder - 1 1/2 tsp

Mustard Seed black - 1 Tbs

Mustard Seed yellow - 2 Tbs

Tomato - 1 Large

Tempering

Red chilli - 1

Onion seed - 1/2 tsp

Bay Leaf - 1

Chilli Garlic Paste

Grind both in a mixer grinder:

Dry red chilli - 2

Garlic - 5 small cloves

Oil (preferably mustard oil)

Salt to taste

Green chilli - 1 slit in half

Coriander for garnish

Method

1. Wash the fish slices. Rub into the fish 1/2 tsp each of salt, turmeric powder and red chilli powder and 1 Tbs oil. Put in the fridge for 15 min to marinate.

2. Dry grind the mustard into a fine powder. Mix the powder with one cup warm water. Add 1/2 tsp salt. Put aside.

3. Grate the tomato.

4. Heat 8-10 Tbs of oil in a non-stick wok. When oil is smoking hot, fry the fish in batches. This should be on high heat. Cover the wok while frying. Be careful not to brown it too much, it should be a yellowish golden colour.

5. In the same oil on low-medium heat add the tempering ingredients and then the grated tomato. Add the garlic chilli paste. Keep stirring, don't burn the tomato. Also add 1 tsp Chilli powder, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder. Keep stirring until oil starts to separate.

6. Add the previously ground mustard powder mix. Check salt. Add roughly one glass water according to how you like your gravy. Don't make it too runny. Bring to boil and add the fried fish and the slit green chilli. Cook for 3-5 min.

7. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with steamed rice.

Pumpkin Cupcakes

This was the first time I tried making cupcakes and I messed up the measurements from the original recipe - I used more than double the requirement of the pumpkin puree. The result was not bad though. It turned out more like a pumpkin pudding with a crisp outer layer and a soft center. Next time I will try the actual thing (as mentioned below).

For the cupcakes:
Boil and puree about 100 gms of fresh pumpkin. Keep aside to cool.

Mix till smooth:
1 cup sugar 
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)

Then add 2 eggs (at room temperature) and whisk again.
Add 1 tsp vanilla (I scraped 1/4 tsp beans from a fresh vanilla pod instead)

In a separate bowl, sift together
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground clove

Now alternately mix the puree and then the flour into the cream mix in 3 parts.

Line the cupcake tins and pour about 2 tbsps of the batter for each cup.
Place in pre-heated oven at 180 degrees C for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack.

For the icing:
1 cup icing sugar
About 1 cup of cream cheese (110 gms) [at room temperature]
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
2 tbsp butter (at room temperature)

1 tbsp lemon zest (optional)

Whisk all the ingredients till smooth.

Once the cupcakes have cooled down, spread the topping on it evenly and refrigerate for an hour before eating.

Prawn Coconut Curry

This is a very easy and very delicious recipe that I make when I run out of ideas.


200 gms Prawns (de-veined and cleaned)
4-5 curry leaves
1tbsp cumin seeds
3 large tomatoes
5 cloves garlic
An inch of ginger
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1tbsp chilli powder (optional)
200 mls coconut milk
1tbsp tamarind paste

Salt/pepper to taste
Oil to cook (approximately 1/4th cup)

Note: If you are using frozen prawns, soak them in boiling water till the pieces separate, then rinse out the water and use the prawns.

Puree the tomato with the ginger and garlic.

In a pan, heat the oil. Add the cumin seeds and wait till they sputter. Add the curry leaves.

After 30 seconds add the tomato puree and saute for about 3-4 minutes making sure it doesn't burn. Add the turmeric and chilli powders (if using) now and cook for another minute or 2.

Now add the coconut milk, tamarind paste, salt and pepper. Once it heats up, add the prawns. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve with rice and garnish with some coriander leaves.