Kolkata Fish Fry with Bhetki Fillet

Bhetki fish fry or as most call it- Kolkata’s famous fish fry is one of the most beloved Bengali recipes of all. The perfect crispy outer layer of the fish fry along with the juicy fish at the center adds an authentic touch to every Bengali’s taste buds. With this dish widespread across every corner of the city, its flavor is something that attracts people the most.

For those fish lovers who love to experiment with this their favorite food, this bhetki fillet recipe is a successful experiment in every Bengalis’s kitchen. For those who cannot resist savoring their favorite meals at home, here’s how to prepare this lip-smacking meal with its awesome taste and amazing crunch.

Ingredients:

For marinating the fish:

• 7-8 pieces ( approx 200 gms) Boneless Bhetki Fish Filet
• 1 & ½ cup Lukewarm Water
• 1 tbsp Vinegar
• ½ Big sized Onion
• 6 pcs Garlic Cloves
• ½ inch Ginger
• 2 pcs Green Chillies
• ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
• Salt to taste

For coating the fish:

• 2 eggs ( required for single coating )
• 1 cup/200mg of Breadcrumbs ( required for single coating ) 
• ½ tsp Salt 

For Frying:

• Doctor’s Choice Rice Bran Oil for deep frying 

Time to prepare- 40 mins

Time to cook- 20 mins

Method:

• Firstly wash the fish fillets or make the fish fillets at home by slicing them with a knife

• Take 1&½ cup of lukewarm water in a bowl and add 1 tbsp vinegar to it. Further add the fillets to it and keep it for 10 minutes. 

• Take a small grinder jar, add ½ sized big onion, ½ inch ginger, 6 garlic cloves as well as 2 green chillies. Grind it to a fine paste. ( Optional to add 2-3 tbsp of water to make a smooth masala paste).

• Take a mixing bowl and add the paste to it. Add black pepper powder. 

• Add lemon juice and salt to the mixing bowl. Mix them well. The paste is ready to marinate the fish. 

• Remove the fish fillets from the water and squeeze to ensure all the water is completely removed. Add the fillets to the mixing bowl and marinate in the masala prepared.

• Gently mix the fish fillets with the masala and keep it for marination for about 45 mins- 1 hour. 

Secondly, 

• Take 2 eggs and ½ tsp salt in a mixing bowl. Beat it well. 

• Take 1 cup of breadcrumbs and add ¼ tsp of salt to it. Mix the mixture well.

• Take the marinated fish fillets, dip them into the beaten eggs and coat them well with the breadcrumbs.

• Give it a proper shape and move to the next step.

• Keep all the breaded fish fillets in a freezer for 15-20 minutes in order to get an awesome crunch.

Thirdly, 

• For a double breadcrumb coating take 2 cups of breadcrumbs and add ½ tsp of salt to it. 

• For double coating, dip the raw Kolkata fish fry into the beaten eggs and further roll it into the breadcrumbs. 

• Put the double coated fish fillets in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. 

Lastly, 

• Take a pan and place it on a medium heat. Add Doctor’s Choice Rice Bran healthy cooking oil for deep frying and let it get hot. 

• Fry the fish fillets on a slow flame 

• Raise the flame to medium again to get the perfect crunch to this bhetki fillet recipe. 

• Fry until golden brown from both sides.

• Place it on a paper towel to soak excess oil. 

• Best served with kasundi or tomato sauce and salad.