Fish (Cod) Bhajjis -Batter Fried Fish

I like to be on time wherever I go but I seem to be falling regularly into the 2 minute late trap. For most occasions 2 minutes late should not be a big deal but in the morning rush the 2 minutes begins to take a life of its own. If DD is 2 minutes late for her bus I have to drive her to a bus stop that is about 5 minutes away or chase the bus to the next one a bit further away and in the end might as well drive her to school. So far we have not missed the bus but for once, thanks to another extremely nice parent who makes sure the bus waits if she sees our car driving towards the stop.

If DD2 is minutes late past the car pool time, I have to get out and park the car and walk her to the class room and give the teacher a slightly embarrassed smile instead of sitting comfortably in the car and driving away the minute DD2 jumps out of the car into the care of a school employee. These minor conveniences do make life simple. Getting out of the car involves being dressed properly(?) and lose the anonymity of sitting cozily in the car.

Late for classes, to soccer practise, to the tutoring session makes me feel truly shoddy. All I can say in my defense is its not all my fault, some or part of the fault falls on the other members of the family including the minors.

Mother's Day Gift!

So no I am on a trial period to get to wherever I want to go on time. Usually a 5 minute head start gives ample time to be on time. Just need to make a habit of it.

Do you get tripped by being a few minutes late for appointments?

Remember Delhi auntie? She was back for a visit. The tiredness of walking around in the National Zoo could not stop me from trying out the yummy fish bajjis the recipe for which came from my brother's friend Dr.Arun. I have been sitting on this recipe for almost a month and could not waste the long weekend by not giving this a try. Though bajjis are quite common using vegetables, a fish bajji is a novel idea. I successfully thwarted Delhi auntie's repeated requests for cooking Poori Aloo however tempting that sounded. Everybody totally enjoyed these bhajjis.

The recipe called for Tilapia which would have been perfect for the bhajjis but I only had frozen Cod. The fillets were about an inch thick whereas Tilapia is less thicker about 1/2 an inch. Any light thinly sliced fish would work just as well.

I was busy frying up the fish so the setting, photography and arrangement are all courtesy of the family (DH,DD,DD2)

Flaky!

Serves: 6
Fish Bajji - Batter Fried Fish

1. 7 Cod fillets (frozens) cut into 2 x 1 inch pieces (wash and dry and set it aside)
2. Canola Oil for deep frying (2 cups)

For the batter:
1. 3/4 cup of besan flour
2. 1 tbsp chili powder (or to taste)
3. 2 eggs (recipe called for egg whites, I added the whole egg)
4. a pinch of asfoetida
5. a pinch of baking soda
6. 1 tsp turmeric powder
7. 4 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
8. 1 cup of water

Whisk all the ingredients (1-7) together except egg. Add the water and make a thick batter (consistency should be that of pancake batter so that it sticks to the fish and does not run). Add the eggs and whisk into the mixture.

Method
1. In a frying pan, heat the oil.
2. Dip the fish piece in the batter and drop it gently in the oil. Let it fry on one side, flip and fry on the other side. Remove when the outside turns golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.

Serve and enjoy with chili garlic sauce.

Made some onion pakoras with the left over batter. Slice the onions thin lengthwise. Mix in with the batter and drop them gently into the oil scattered. Remove when they turn golden brown.

Brinjal and Potatoes in a peanut sauce - inspired by Rhengan Reveya

Notice: "Children who are not water safe should be supervised by an adult and be within arms reach at all times."

The above text is posted in our county swimming pool which I happened to notice just today in spite of visiting the pool for the past 4 years(or may be I want to make a big deal of it just today for purposes of the blog ;). Asked DD to read it and tell me what it means. She read "water safe" and had this expression on her face which can be best explained by the phrase "huh". This text clearly symbolizes exactly what is wrong with stuff in USA. I bet a lawyer helped come up with that. Short of asking the county employees who work there I don't know what the phrase means exactly and I will be hard pressed to find a county employee who knows exactly what it means leave alone another patron. My understanding of "water safe" is children who do not know how to swim. But what is wrong with saying "children who do not swim" and I am raking my brains to figure out which group of people that phrase might offend. Please be kind enough to put me out of this misery I will be very grateful.

This clearly exemplifies our political correctness run amok. Totally understand the usage of "physically challenged" for a person with disabilities, but some of the others are just over the top. I particularly like the word "ethically challenged" which in plain speak would be 'a corrupt politician'. Even though we are talking about a corrupt politician we can't hurt his feelings can we? Are they any "challenged" phrases that gets your hide, please do share it, I love getting worked up!


I saw the same recipe featured in 2 beautiful blogs here and here could not wait to try it. Did not have the small purple brinjals, all I had was 2 medium sized white brinjals and big white potates. Didn't hurt the dish tasted just as tasty. The white brinjal had a sweet soft flesh and went well with the potatoes.

Cubed brinjals and potatoes in a peanut sauce

Ingredients
1. 4 Medium sized Potatoes peeled and cubed (3 cups)
2. 2 long medium sized white brinjals cubed (1 1/2 cups)
3. seasonings: cumin, curry leaves,asfoetida
4. 2 tsp amchur powder
5. 1 tsp turmeric powder
6. 1/2 tbsp grated ginger
7. 2 tsp oil
8. salt to taste


For the spice blend
1. 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
2. 3/4 tbsp coriander seeds
3. 2 tsp cumin seeds
4. 5 red chilies

Roast 2-4 and along with the peanuts blend to a powder

Method
1. In a pan heat oil and add the seasonings
2. Add the cubed brinjals, saute for a few minutes and then add the cubed potatoes
3. Add the grated ginger and turmeric and mix well
4. Add the spice blend and 1 1/2 cups of water, amchur powder, salt, place the lid on the pan and let them cook till the potatoes are completely cooked.

Serve with rice or chapatis.