Macher jhol
Macher jhol, from above
Non vegWest Bengal

Macher jhol

Thin gravy, fierce loyalty. Every Bengali mother's version is the correct one.

40 minTime
27 gProtein each
mediumSpice
Fish, rice and a Bengali3 chapters · 2 min read

Make it your way

Grandma's wayThe original. Handle with reverence.
The original
310kcalsame
27 gproteinsame
3 gfibresame
40minutessame

Per serving, worked out from the ingredient table.

Ingredients

4 servings
Fish6 to 8 rohu or catla steaks
Turmeric (ground turmeric)1 tsp, divided
Saltto taste
Mustard oil3 tbsp
Potato1 large, in long wedges
Nigella seeds½ tsp, kalo jeere
Green chilli3, slit
Ginger2.5 cm, ground to a paste
Cumin powder (ground cumin)1½ tsp
Coriander powder (ground coriander)1 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder½ tsp
Tomato1, chopped
Water2½ cups
Coriander leaves (cilantro)a handful

Method

7 steps
  1. 1Rub the fish with half the turmeric and a little salt. Rest 10 minutes.
  2. 2Heat the mustard oil until it smokes, then lower the heat. Fry the fish lightly on both sides and keep aside.
  3. 3Fry the potato wedges in the same oil until golden in spots.
  4. 4Add nigella seeds and green chillies, then the ginger paste and the powdered spices mixed with a splash of water.
  5. 5Add the tomato and cook until soft. Pour in the water with the rest of the turmeric and salt. Simmer until the potatoes are tender.
  6. 6Slide in the fish and simmer gently, uncovered, swirling the pan instead of stirring.
  7. 7Scatter coriander, rest a few minutes and serve with hot rice.
Serve it like this

Serve hot in a deep bowl with a swirl of ghee or a few coriander leaves on top, and rice or rotis on the side.

Sign up free to cook this

Bloom picks tonight's dinner for your diet and allergies, then cooks it with you step by step.

Make it a meal

What goes with Macher jhol: a bread or rice, a side, something to drink and something sweet.

Bread or rice Luchi45 min
Bread or rice Basanti pulao45 min
On the side Shukto45 min
On the side Bengali aloo dum40 min
To drink Lebu cha6 min
Something sweet Rasgulla60 min
Sign up to send it to your cook