Spicy pan fried fish served with spiced and flavored rice. Made in Indian style, this dish is super quick to make.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 25 minutes
  • Total time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 2 · 2 to 3
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 fish (fillets or steak)
  • ¾ teaspoon ginger garlic paste ((or ½ tsp each grated))
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder ((optional))
  • ⅓ teaspoon salt ((adjust to taste))
  • 1 to 1½ tablespoon lemon juice ((adjust to taste))
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or oil
  • 2 sprigs curry leaves ((divided))
  • 1 teaspoon garlic (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons ghee ((or oil))
  • 2 to 3 green chilies (slit)
  • 1 cup uncooked rice ((basmati or jasmine or use 2½ cups cooked rice))
  • 1 small onion (thinly sliced)
  • 10 whole cashews (split)
  • 10 raisins (optional)
  • ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • salt (as needed)

Method

  1. Cook rice: Add rice to a bowl and rinse well. Drain completely, pour fresh water and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook on a low heat until the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked through.
  2. Prep the fish: Coat the fish with lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala and salt. Leave aside for 10 mins, while you prep up the onions and other ingredients.
  3. Fry the fish: Heat oil or ghee and add half of the curry leaves. Place the fish and fry for 3 mins and then flip. Add more spices if you like. Fry on both the sides, until it is cooked through. Transfer this to a plate.
  4. Make fish rice: Heat ghee or oil in the same pan. Add garlic, onions, green chilies and the rest of the curry leaves. Saute until golden and add nuts and raisins if using. Saute until the nuts turn lightly golden and the onions begin to caramelize. Don't burn.
  5. Add cooled rice, salt and pepper. Mix well and heat through. Taste test to adjust salt or pepper.
  6. Serve rice and fish with fresh salad or sliced onions and carrots.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.