Fish Chops

After a long and unbearable hot summer when the first rain drop hit the ground, we sigh of relief. Getting rid of scorching sun and feeling the first rain on the face brings an enormous joy in anybody’s mind. I always enjoy this very season. The pleasure of taking the smell of the earth when the first rain drop falls on the ground is amazing. The rain rejuvenates me along with the plants and trees. When I sit down to write something about the rainy season, the childhood memories of rainy season is down pouring in my mind.

 

  In my childhood, I had to go the park everyday to play with friends. Every rainy evening I felt very sad. I used to stare at the sky, and wait to stop the rain. As soon as the rain stopped I used to insist to my mother to give me permission to go the park. My mother always tried to convince me that the park would be deserted in the mud. Even I also knew that, but I had to go to the park. After making my mother to give me permission, I used to run to the park, nothing but to play in muddy water. Another funny thing was that I loved to paint during the rain rather to study. My father used to scold me for this behavior. Anyway, during my middle school or high school I obviously didn’t go to park. However, I love to go to school during the rainy days. Very few students used to turn up on those days leading to no study or declaration of rainy day. Both of these events were extremely enjoyable to be. Going to school and coming back from school with studying. The overcast sky, the heavy rain, and the vast greenery, was really an amazing feeling. I couldn’t concentrate in my studies at that time. I just stared through the window to watch the torrent of rain and the agitating trees in the gusts of wind. Here I would love to mention my mother’s garden. She has green finger. Her full-bloom garden was envy to our neighbors. My sister and I were her assistants. We used to brought twigs of various plants from our friends’ gardens and plant them in our garden in rainy season. We had 7-8 types of hibiscus in our garden, most of them grew to big bushes from the twigs which we planted in rainy season.

I always love to remember the days of my childhood during rainy season. However, the office-life was totally different. Though the first rain was always welcome, I usually curse the rainy season, because going office was a great hassle on those days. Gone are those days. I last enjoyed the rain in India in 2007. After that I ‘m in the USA, where there is no rainy season. When it rains here during winter, I lost into my childhood memories.

As a Bengali, food will always take the front seat for no reason. Though I’m not a foodie, but I’m a Bengali. So, when I sit to write about rainy season, all kind of mouth-watering food especially for rainy season is coming into my mind. My father used to ask my mother to prepare piyaji (onion fritters) in the evenings on rainy days. Onion fritters and rice cereal in the evening must be there to complete a rainy day. Few days back I prepared fish-chops. I wished to rain outside to complete our evening snacks. However, though it is raining in India in July, but here it is summer. Sun shines here until 8:30 in the evening.

There were some reasons behind making the fish chops. First, 2-3 trout fish was left in my freezer, but I was not in the mood to cook normal curry, because of the unbearable smell. Second, I wanted to cook some lip smacking item to write in my blog, especially for rainy season. Third, I wanted to put a recipe in the event, “Monsoon of India”.

I used trout fish, but I think any kind of fish will work, except small fish.

Ingredient:

3 trout fish

2 medium sized potatoes

1 medium size onion

1 small tomato

2-3 eggs

½ cup chopped coriander leaves

2-3 tbsp bread crumb

2 tsp cumin powder

2 tsp curry powder

2 tsp garam mashala powder

1 tsp chili powder

½ tsp sugar

Pinch of turmeric

Salt to taste

Oil to fry

Method:

Cut the potatoes into halves and boil till they are firm. Meanwhile boil the fish with a pinch of turmeric, and salt in one cup of water. If you feel the strong smell of fish, add ½ tsp vinegar. Boil the fish until it absorb all the water. Separate the flesh from the bone and keep aside. Chop onion and tomato. Grate the boiled potato. It’ll be little sticky. Heat one tbsp. of oil in a wok. Add onion and tomato. Fry until oil separates. Add the grated potato, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tsp curry powder, 1 tsp garam mashala, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp sugar, salt, and cook for several minute. Stir until all the ingredients mix up well. Put out of flame and let it cool down. Mash the fish with rest of spices and coriander leaves. Then mix well with the cooked potato well with hand. Take 2 golf ball size of the mixture at a time in hand and give the shape of chops. Roll in bread crumb and arrange in a plate. Keep the chops in refrigerator for one hour. This will make the chops firm and crispy. Whisk egg with little salt in bowl.  Heat oil in a wok . Dip the chops in egg batter and roll in bread crumb, and dip fry until the chops become red.  Arrange in a plate with tomato sauce and mustard sauce. Serve hot with tea or coffee.