Kolkata fish fryCrumbed fish fillets
The Kolkata fish fry was born in the city's old cabins and became the essential snack of Durga Puja nights, when families finish pandal-hopping at a restaurant table with fish fry, kasundi and a heap of raw onion salad. Fillets of bhetki (barramundi) are marinated in a paste of green chilli, ginger, garlic, coriander and lime, dipped in egg and pressed into breadcrumbs, then deep-fried until golden. The inside should be juicy and green-flecked. Common mistake: cutting the fillets too thick, so the crumb burns before the middle cooks; aim for about 1.5 cm and fry at a steady 170 °C until the fish is opaque all the way through and flakes when pressed. Chef's tip: chill the crumbed fillets for 30 minutes before frying so the coating sets and does not fall away in the oil.




