Chuna Machha Batibasa

Ingredients:

Chuna macha (smelt fish) - Half kg

Soriso (Mustard seeds) - 1 tablespoon

Jeera (cumin)- 1 tablespoon

Green chillis- 8 pieces

Garlic- 10 cloves

Haldi (Turmeric powder)- 2 table spoons

Potatoes- 2 medium sizes

Onion- 1 small

Mustard Oil

Poi Leaves (can be substituted with spinach leaves)

Method:

Masala: Soak Mustard seeds, Jeera, 2 green chillies, 3 cloves of garlic in a small bowl with water. Set aside for 1 hour and then grind to a fine paste.

Wash fish well and drain the extra water. Add some diced onions, potatoes to the fish.

Then add the masala paste, turmeric, salt, red chilli powder and 1 teaspoon of oil. Mix everthing very well.

Take a non stick cooking dish or oven safe dish. Smear the bottom of the pan or the oven safe dish with little oil. Pour the fish and vegetable mix to the dish. Cover the lid and cook in low flame.

If you are cooking in the oven, set the oven to 250 degrees and cook for 1 hour.

When the fish is almost done and potatoes are almost cooked, add poi leaves.

Crush 4-5 green chllis with 5-6 garlic cloves and put it on top of poi leaves. Cover the dish again and cook for 10 more mins. Put some more drops of mustard oil and take it off the fire.