Nei Meen Roast - Pan fried Spanish Mackerel

 I have been working long and hard on my garden project.  The weekends fly by with all the organising and the prep work.  Finally I have managed to get my planter boxes filled with soil and all that remains to be done is planting - for now!

Once planting is over it will be a constant task keeping weeds out, trimming and shaping the plants, watering them and hopefully harvesting fruit and flowers.

This is an easy dinner when you are tired from doing hard work in the garden and want to relax with a quick and easy meal.

Spanish Mackerel is my favoured fish because I grew up with it but really any firm fish that can be sliced into thin cutlets will work.

Ingredients:

1 kilo of Spanish Mackerel  cutlets

2 teaspoons chilli powder (reduce if you want less heat)

1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1/2 teaspoon coriander powder

salt to taste

1 sprig curry leaves

1/4 sliced red onion 

Oil for shallow frying

Method:

Wash fish and pat dry.  In a bowl, combine all ingredients except onion, curry leaves and oil.

Add a tablespoon of water and make a thick paste of all the spices.

Smear it on the fish cutlets and set aside for at least 30 minutes.

In a saucepan, heat oil,  Fry the fish pieces on both sides, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side till cooked though and the flesh is firm and white.

In the same oil, fry onions and curry leaves.  Garnish the fish with the onions and curry leaves.

Serve hot with rice or rotis.