Bhaja Macher Bhorta
Ingredients
Directions
Ingredients
180 g
(61/4 oz) fresh skin-on mackerel fillets
¼ tsp
salt
¼ tsp
ground turmeric
2 tbsp
mustard oil
1 lg
dried red chilli
2 md
onions, finely sliced
2
bird’s eye chillies, chopped
a few fresh coriander (cilantro) sprigs, chopped
1 lime, quartered, to serve (optional)
Bhaja Macher Bhorta
This bhorta dish has become a staple in diaspora Bangladeshi homes, especially in the UK. The strong, meaty, oily nature of mackerel complements the pungency of mustard oil and the smoky heat of the fried chilli. There’s a gentle sweetness, too, from the soft sautéed onions, while the coriander (cilantro) adds a hit of freshness. Serve with rice and wedges of lime for squeezing. Try to go for wild, freshly caught mackerel if you can – some of the best mackerel bhorta I’ve ever had was when Dad used to go fishing in Dover and return with a fresh haul.
4 servings
Excerpted with permission from Made in Bangladesh by: Dina Begum published by Hardie Grant Publishing
- Rub the mackerel with the salt and turmeric and set aside. Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium–high heat for about a minute until hot, then add the mackerel fillets, skin-side down. Fry for 2–3 minutes until golden, then turn over and fry for another 2–3 minutes on the other side. Remove from the pan and set aside on a plate to rest for 10 minutes.
- Keep the pan on the heat but reduce the heat to medium. Add the dried chilli and fry, stirring, for about 2 minutes until the chilli turns dark brown and smoky. Remove from the pan and transfer to the plate with the fish. Next, add the onions and bird’s eye chillies to the pan, and sauté for about 4 minutes until soft and translucent. Turn off the heat and tip the onion mixture into a mixing bowl.
- Coarsely crush the red chilli using a pestle and mortar, then add to the bowl with the onions. Use your hands or two forks to finely flake the fried mackerel and add this to the bowl too, along with the fresh coriander. Mix well, pressing down on the onion and fish so that everything is well combined and comes together. Check the seasoning and serve with lime wedges.