Green Masala Surmai (Visonu / King Fish) Fish Fry.

“Green Masala Surmai (Visonu / King Fish) Fish Fry With Onion Raita” … A delicious ~ crispy tava fried fish that goes well as side dish … I got crisp fried fish pieces with a lovely crust outside and a layer of green masala within as I just experimented with freezer technique for frying the fish and it turned out perfect, I got the best crispy fried fish ever by this method ... Yummy Yumz …...

** Fish fry is something that is almost every fish eater’s favorite item that is enjoyed as a side dish even with simple Dalitoy-Sheetha (Dal-Chawal). I have written a lot about fish and Konkani Saraswat’s before and will not repeat again. All said, a piece of crispy fried fish when served as a side dish goes a long way in satisfying taste buds and in my home we love it. Visonu / Surmai / King fish is one my most favorite fish that I love to fry than make a curry. By and large I guess this is one fish that is fried the most amongst all in southern parts of India and elsewhere too. This time I have made a experiment by applying a little smoother masala and putting it in the freezer and then frying it directly without thawing. Go through the recipe, I got the best crispy fried fish ever by this method. Simple and easy yet very very tasty.

** For the Green Masala : In a mixer grinder add in a handful of coriander leaves, 3-4 green chillies cut into pieces, 2-3 curry leaves, 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp of hing powder, 1 tblsp of vinegar, salt to taste and grind to a smooth paste with little bit of water. Do not add in more water. 

** Now wash the fish / clean and pat it dry. Apply the green masala to the fish. Put the fish pieces on steel plate / box and put it in the freezer for an hour. Do not topple one fish piece above the other. Check the picture posted with masala below. 

** Note : I put the marinated fish pieces in the freezer so that the masala would freeze a bit and stick to the fish pieces. Do not keep it more than an hour. Maximum an hour or less. We need the fish masala to just thicken a bit and stick to the fish. And remember not to THAW the fish pieces on removing from freezer. You can also follow the normal method of applying the masala and frying. This method, I followed so that I could let the fish hold I more green masala on frying without falling apart into the tava on frying. I got crisp fried fish pieces with a lovely layer of green masala within. 

** Note : You can use any fish that you like too. Goes very well with all types of fishes. But somehow I find surmai fish fry the best and I am always partial to it. But you may prepare the same with any fish of your choice.

** Note : In case you have guests or you want to fry the pieces later on,  you can always apply the masala to the fish pieces, arrange them neatly in a box and put them in fridge initially for few hours and then put it in the freezer for only 30 mins before frying. Remove and fry them immediately. You can also follow the normal method of applying the masala and frying. 

** In a wide plate add in half a cup of fine rava (chiroti rava) and spread it evenly. Remove the fish pieces from freezer and immediately roll it on the rava. Tightly press the rava to the masala applied on the fish. It soaks in the rava a bit. Don’t worry, keep pressing little bit more till you get an even layer of rava on top and bottom. That is the trick for the the masala to not leave the fish on frying. 

** Heat 2-3 tblsp on a non stick pan, when hot lower the heat and add in the fish pieces immediately once they are applied with rava. The fish may look a bit frozen. But don’t worry the pressed rava will not allow the water to ooze out. 

** Add in a few pieces at a time depending upon the size of the tava. Fry them crisp on medium flame, flipping them over twice till all sides are equally and evenly browned. Remove into an absorbent paper for the excess oil to drain off. Continue with remaining fish pieces till the required number of fishes are fried.

**“Green Masala Surmai (Visonu / King Fish) Fish Fry” is done and ready to be served. Always serve fish fries hot and immediately from the tava, they taste the best that way. The fish turns out not only crispy and aromatic but tasty too. Do try this out, tastes simply yumz.

** An earnest Request : There are many more recipes of similar type in the blog. For all my Recipes, use the search option or the label section in the Blog. If you are still not able to find it please leave a message in comment section or mail me the same. You can also go to my page (add on the left side of blog) and leave a message and I will try my best to get back to you as soon as possible … Thank you. I have also started a food group by the name "KONKANI DELICACIES" the link of which is posted on the left side of the blog page. Do join us in our culinary journey.