#84 Phenomenal Sweet and Sour Chilli Fish

Chilli Chicken, Chilli Gobhi, Gobhi Manchurian, Chilli Potato and Chilli Idli----- and so the list goes with this popular Indo Chinese cooking style adapted to so many variations that it has been declared as a very popular dish in most parts of India. The concept is simply batter fried chicken, vegetables or idli stir fried in a sweet and spicy sauce.  

We shared a serving of Chilli Fish last week at an Indian Restaurant in our area, and R adjudicates it was not up to his standards. I decided to compromise with my home made version of Chilli Fish. It surprised me that even though my fish was so delicately caramelized by broiling in the oven it did not lose any of the texture and taste from the usual deep-fried version. It was distinctively gratifying with enormous flavor in the sauce served along with a bowl of fried rice.   Not that this is the best Chilli Fish ever,  but it got me thinking about how food and taste are all about individual likes and dislikes!  So please try this out.... it is really much easier than it looks:)

To marinate:

4 tbsp corn flour

4 tbsp water

½ Tbsp pepper powder

½ tsp Kashmiri chilli

1 egg

1 tsp minced ginger and garlic

A pinch of salt

Ingredients:

Fish fillets like King fish or Haddock- 1 lb (Any white fleshy fish that holds together. I used Cod.)

Baking Spray to broil fish

2-3 tsp sesame oil

2 whole Red Chillies

2 large cloves of garlic minced

1 Tblspn ginger julienned

1 ½ cups onion diced

1-5 green chillies split lengthwise

½ cup Red bell pepper cubed

½ cup Green Bell pepper cubed

2-3 stems spring onions

Rec Chillies- 2 whole

1 Tbsp hot Sriracha or chilli sauce

Chopped cilantro- 1 Tblspn

1 Tbsp Soy sauce

2 tsp tomato ketchup

1 tsp red wine vinegar

4 Tbsp water

2 tsp corn flour

1 cup water

Method:

1. Clean and cut fish fillets into bite size cubes. Mix together the marinade into a thick paste along with egg.

2. Coat the fish with the Marinade mixture and keep aside in fridge.

3. Take a cookie sheet and spray the baking spray liberally. Place the cubes of fish on the sheet and spray again.

4. Broil on low in the oven until fish is just cooked. Keep aside and slowly shake fish from the pan without breaking it apart.

5. Place a wok on the fire and add sesame oil. Cut up the red chillies and add to oil.

6. Add the garlic, ginger, onions, and saute until crisp.

7. Add the cut up bell peppers and spring onions along with all the sauces, vinegar, water, cornflour and tomato ketchup.

8. When the sauce thickens a bit add the fish and cilantro and remove from fire.