Big Fish head are always very favorite item for all Bengalis. We really don’t leave any part of fish. Especially the head which we love to cook in various way, and among all of them my favorite one is MACHER MATHA DIYE BADHAKOFI OR FISH HEAD COOKED WITH CABBAGE. Most of the non- Bengali people must not have any idea of this because once I told about this to my friend and she got shocked like anything. But really this one is a typical Bong special and definitely recipe from my Ma’s kitchen.
Only for this recipe I use onion and garlic in cabbage otherwise I cook cabbage only with ginger. I remember in my childhood days I always preferred to have fish head that’s why maa cooks cabbage like that so I can have some cabbage also. While making this one for myself I really miss my Ma’s coking.
Preparation time:15 mints.
Cooking time: 30 mints.
Ingredients:
1.Half finely chopped cabbage.
2.Ruhu or Katla fish head (cut into small pieces);
3.One large sliced onion.
4.One small chopped tomato.
5.One tea spoon ginger and garlic paste.
6.Three to four split green chilies.
7.One dry red chili, Few cumin seeds, Two clove, Two cardamom, One bay leave.
8.Turmeric powder, Red chili powder, Cumin powder, Coriander Powder(half tea spoon of each item).
9.A pinch of garam masala powder.
10.Salt & Sugar as per taste.
11.Sunflower for oil for cooking.
12.Mustard oil for frying the fish heads.
12.Half tea spoon of ghee.
Process:
Wash and clean the fish heads and marinate them with some salt and turmeric. Now add mustard oil in a vessel and fry the head pieces in medium heat till it turn brown. Remove from heat and keep it aside.
Now take one vessel and add some sunflower oil let it become hot now add the dry red chili, cumin seeds, clove, cardamom and bay leave.
After few seconds add the sliced onions and chopped tomatoes and cook till onions are transparent.
Now add the ginger garlic paste along with all the spices powder mix well.
Now add some salt and sugar and add the fried fish head pieces and cook till the oil come out.
Now add the chopped cabbage and mix well. Cook with a lid in medium flame till the cabbage cooked nicely and oil come out from the curry. Now with the help of the spatula try to mishmash the head pieces and mix well. Finally add the garam masala powder and sprinkle the ghee and mix well.
Your MACHER MATHA DIYE BADHA KOFI is ready serve hot with plain rice.
