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 ... Yummilicious …...

** Fish fry is something that is almost every fish eater’s favorite item that is enjoyed as a side dish or starter. There is nothing more appealing to a amchi than a simple meal of Dalitoy (Spiced Tuvar dal)- Sheetha (Rice)- Upkari (Bhaji) with crisp fried visonu. I have written a lot about fish and GSB Konkani Saraswat’s before and will not repeat again. All said, I endorse that a piece of crispy fried fish when served as a side dish goes a long way in satisfying taste buds for fishitarians 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 among 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 when served during meals or even as a starter.

** Here is my recipe for “Green Masala Surmai (Visonu/ King Fish) Fish Fry With Onion Raita” ... my style, try it, tastes scrumptious ....

** In Mumbai we get fish all cleaned and ready to use, all we need to do is gently wash it with plenty of water to clear off inedible parts if any. The number of sliced pieces depends upon your requirement. I have used 5 pieces of about 1/3 inch thickness. The masala prepared was sufficient, so do use your judgment for your need.  

** For the Green Masala Marinade : In a mixer grinder add in a handful of coriander leaves (Dhania/ Kothambari pallo), 3-4 green chillies (hari mirchi/ tarni mirsanga) cut into pieces, 2-3 curry leaves (kadipatta/ karbevu), 2 cloves of garlic (losun/ lehsun), 1 tsp of hing (asafoetida) powder, 1 tblsp of vinegar, salt (namak/ meeta) to taste and grind to a smooth paste with little bit of water (as required only). 

** Now wash the fish/ clean and pat it dry. Apply 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 more green masala on frying without falling apart into the tava. 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 for best of taste otherwise you can also follow the normal method of applying the masala and frying whichever suits you.

** For Dusting the fish pieces : In a wide plate add in half a cup of fine rava (chiroti rava), a little bit of red chilly powder (mirsange pitti/ mirchi tikkat), just a pinch of salt (namak/ meeta) and mix well. Now spread it evenly on the plate.  Remove fish pieces from freezer and immediately roll it on the rava and tightly press it on so that it sticks to the pieces evenly on all sides eveny. It soaks in the rava a bit, so 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, so please follow the method and you will definitely like it.

** 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 on high for 2-3 minutes, this helps in sealing the water content in fish within, then reduce the flame between medium to low and fry until crisp on the bottom surface. Now flip it over gently and then fry till done. Keep flipping them over a few times 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 with Onion Raita” is done and ready to be served. Always serve fish fries hot and immediately from the tava during meals, as they taste the best that way. The fish turns out not only crispy and aromatic but tasty too. Like my family if your family too loves fish fries then do try this out. Though you can try this recipe with halwa (black pomfret)/ pomfret/ rawas too, somehow I found that it does taste best when prepared using surmai/ visonu/ king fish. 

** There are plenty fish recipes (curry/ fries) in this Blog which you can browse through using search/ label option. Do try various dishes to give your family best home cooked food which I am sure will be appreciated in the long run. My Amma (Mom) always insisted that while eating outside food was fine once in a way, eating home cooked food and making a habit of it for coming generation was important for a healthy lifestyle as all the wealth created can never buy health and we do owe that much for family.