Macher matha diye moong dal

macher matha diye moong dal 

It is a authentic and very popular Bengali dish cooked with big katla fish’s head and yellow lentil. Here the garam masala makes it aromatic and few drops of ghee make it delicious. Best match with hot rice. Cooking time is 25 – 30 minutes for 4 persons.

Ingredients

Fish (Katla) head                       1 big

Yellow lentil (Moong dal)             5 tbsp

Onion                                        2 medium

Garlic cloves                              6-7

Tomato                                     1 medium

Cumin seed                               ½ tsp

Dry chilli                                    2

Bay leaf                                     3

Ginger paste                              1 tbsp

Turmeric powder                         2 tsp

Red chilli powder                        1 tsp

Cumin powder                            ½ tsp

Garam masala powder                1 tsp

Raisins                                      1 tbsp

Green chilli                                2-3

Salt                                          to taste

Ghee                                        few drops

Mustard oil                                6 tbsp

Method

First wash properly the head pieces and marinate with turmeric powder and salt for 10 minutes.

marinate the fish head pieces

In the mean time heat 1 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker, add bay leaf and moong dal then roast until light brown.

roast dal with bay leaf in pressure cooker

Then add 1 cup of water and 1 tsp turmeric powder, stir and cook for 1 whistle or until semi cook.

add water into pressure cooker

Chop the onion, garlic and tomato.

Heat remaining oil in a wok and add fish head pieces, fry till golden brown.

fry the fish head pieces

Then take out from oil and keep aside.

Now in the same oil, add cumin seeds and dry red chillies and sauté.

Add chopped garlic then stir until light brown.

garlic, cumin seeds and dry chillies in hot oil

Then add chopped onion and cook until light brown.

add chopped onion

Add chopped tomato and stir until tomatoes get melted.

add chopped tomato

Now add ginger paste, red chilli powder, cumin powder and stir for 2 minutes.

add paste and dry masala

Add the fried head pieces, mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes on low flame.

mix fried heads with masala

Now add boiled moong dal into wok and mix well.

add boiled dal with fish head

Add extra water and salt then cover and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Open cover and add raisins and slited green chillies and again cover cook for 2 minutes.

add raisins and green chillies

Now add garam masala powder and mix well.

add garam masala

Your delicious dal is ready to serve with few drops of ghee.