Bhai Phota Special: Mourola Maacher Ombal (Small Fish Cooked in Sweet & Sour Sauce – Bengali Style)

Ingredients:

Small Fish – 250 gms (Mourola)
Kalo Jeera (Kalonji/ Onion Seeds) – 1 tsp
Dry Red Chilli – 2 nos
Gur (Jaggery) – 2 tbsp
Mustard Oil – 2 tbsp
Mustard Oil- for frying fish
Tamarind- size of a one rupee coin
Salt – as required

Method:

Marinate the Mourola fish in ½ tsp turmeric and ½ tsp salt for 5 min. Heat some mustard oil in a pan till it is smoking hot, then reduce the temperature  and add the fish. Fry the fish till golden in colour. It will be crispy. Keep aside.

In a separate pan heat 2 tbsp mustard oil, smoke it, lower the temperature, add kalo jeera seed and dry red chillies. Add gur, salt and ½ cup water. When it starts to boil add tamarind pulp into it. Immerse the tamarind piece in hot water and strain to take out the pulp. Add the fried small fish and boil for 5 min. The consistancy of an ambol is very thin, almost watery. So keep that in mind while adding water. Serve with plain rice.

FreshTamarind is available with all vegetable vendors in kolkata. you need to take out the seeds and soak in hot water for 15 minutes .Then strain to get the required pulp.