Rui macher pulao( Rohu fish in flavored rice)

Rui Macher Pulao( Rohu Fish Pulao in Bengali style):

Today is 'Mahalaya'. Mahalaya marks the start of 'Devi paksha' the traditional six-day countdown to Mahasaptami starts from Mahalaya. Visit of Goddess Durga on earth referred to as Durga Puja or Sharod Utsav starts from Mahalaya. Mahalaya is an auspicious day for Bengali's all over the world. The Hindu Goddess Durga, the Goddess of supreme power invited to descend on earth by Mahalaya. The enchanting voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra broadcasting from the radio filled up the predawn time of the day, inviting Goddess Durga to come on earth to destroy evil power. Bengali waits for a year-long for this festival, Durga Puja. 

Like me, Bengali's who are now not in India basically in Kolkata is homesick or cherishing the moments of Durga Puja celebration in Kolkata. Here we also celebrate Durga Puja on the following Saturday or Sunday after Mahalaya, but that not the same as we celebrate in Kolkata. In my childhood waking up in the early morning and listening to Mahalaya with sleepy eyes is an unbelievable experience. Though Durga puja will starts after six days of Mahalaya that time our puja starts on that day only. 

Puja means new clothes, puja means good homemade food, meeting with friends and relatives, Pandal ( temporary temple build by bamboo or wood for community puja celebration) hopping, eating street foods, street fairs, it's a heart bonding celebration for Bengali's.

Bengali has a foodie culture, on every occasion and festival food is a priority. I started my food preparations for Puja today. I will share my Bengali food recipes for the Puja celebration in my coming blog till puja ends. Today I am sharing Rohu fish pulao, Rohu is a very common favorable fish among Bengali's. The fish pulao recipe is our family recipe I learned it from my dad. Here Rohu fish is easily available in all Indian or Bangladeshi fish markets. I hope, you will like this recipe.

Cuisine- Bengali
Author - Usashi Mandal
Serving- 2
Preparation time - 20 minutes
Cooking time - 60 minutes


Some other Rice Recipes:

Chicken Tikka Biryani
Burnt Garlic Fried Rice
Kolkata style Goat meat Biryani
Shrimp Biryani

Ingredients:

4 piece of Rohu fish
1 1/2 cup of Basmati rice 
1 tsp Coriander powder                    
1 onion thinly sliced
1 tbsp ginger paste
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp red chili powder                                                             
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tbsp broken cashew nuts

1 tbsp raisins
1 onion paste
1 tsp sugar
1 dry red chili
1 bay leaf
1 tsp garam masala powder

1 tbsp whole garam masala
1 tsp kewra water
2 tbsp ghee/ butter
2 tbsp mustard oil
Salt for seasoning

Instructions:

1. Rub turmeric powder and salt into the fish pieces. 

2. Heat mustard oil in a pan. when it turns to smoke point fry fish pieces until nicely brown. Take out and keep aside.

3. Soak washed basmati rice for 1 hour then heat 4 to 5 cups of water in a big pan. Add 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tbsp of whole garam masala, When it starts bubbling add rice and cook until 95% done. Drain out the water and spread the cooked rice on a shallow tray.

4. Heat oil in a frying pan add sliced onion and fry until golden brown, drain in a paper towel and keep aside.

5. Heat ghee or butter in a dutch pan, add bay leaf, whole dried red chili, 1/2 tbsp of whole garam masala. When it starts crackling add onion paste, fry until light brown, add tomato paste, salt, sugar, chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, ginger paste, and saute. Cook until oil separates from the masala. Add fish pieces gently without breaking them. Coat masala evenly on both sides of fish pieces. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes in low flame.

6. Arrange a layer of cooked rice on over the fish pieces, then add fried onion, garam masala powder, kewra water, cashew, and raisin. Add another layer of rice over it. Pour 1 tsp of ghee over the last layer. 

7. In very low flame keep the dutch pan for 30 minutes. Close the lid tightly. Before serving mix everything very well, cautious about fish pieces it tends to break. Serve hot and taste an authentic Bengali dish, Rohu fish pulao. It's a complete dish but if you like you can have salad or raita with it.