Stuffed Bluefish With Sweet And Spicy Masala Recipes

HERB-STUFFED BLUEFISH

Steps:

• Preheat grill or broiler to high. Season fish with salt and pepper. Cut half the lemon into thin slices, and stuff cavity with lemon slices and herbs. Coat outside of fish with oil.
• Place fish on grill or rimmed baking pan, and grill or broil until skin is charred and fish is firm to the touch, about 6 minutes. Flip fish, and grill or broil until just cooked through, about 6 minutes more.
• Let rest 3 minutes. Remove top fillet by sliding a spatula between flesh and backbone (flesh should easily release), then pull out backbone. Remove bottom fillet. Squeeze remaining lemon half over fish, and serve.

STUFFED BLUEFISH WITH SWEET AND SPICY MASALA

Steps:

• Remove the head and tail from the fish. Butterfly by slicing it down the entire length of the belly side. Open it up, and carefully remove the backbone, starting from the neck. Remove any remaining bones. Fold fish in half, skin-side out, and rub skin with a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Marinate for 15 minutes.
• In a small skillet, heat ghee over medium heat; add cashews, and saute until golden. Remove to a plate. In the same skillet with remaining ghee, saute raisins until they swell and brown slightly. Add raisins to the plate with cashews, and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat 1/3 cup oil, and fry onions until edges are nicely browned. Add garlic, ginger, and green chiles, and stir for 1 minute. Stir in coriander, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, cumin, remaining 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, garam masala, tomato, lime juice, cilantro, mint, remaining teaspoon salt, and sugar, and fry until onions are well browned and mixture is thick and pastelike, adding enough water to keep it moist. Remove from heat, and cool slightly.
• Open fish, and spread one-third of the onion mixture inside; fold it over to close. In the same skillet, push the remaining onion mixture to the sides of the pan. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and place fish in the middle. Cook, covered, on medium-low heat, until bottom of fish is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Carefully turn, and continue to cook until lightly browned, about 10 minutes more. Remove from heat.
• Carefully transfer fish to a platter. Spread remaining sauce over fish. Sprinkle with cashews and raisins, and garnish with cilantro and mint; serve immediately.

NORTHERN INDIAN LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Process garlic, ginger, and 1 1/2 teaspoons water in a food processor until a chunky paste forms; set aside.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot but not smoking. Add onion; cook, stirring, until translucent, about 3 minutes. Set aside one quarter of onion in a large bowl.
• Add 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 1/2 cup water, the turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, and 2 tablespoons coriander to onion in skillet. Cook 3 minutes, stirring. Add tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups water, and the bay leaf. Season with salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer.
• Mix reserved onion, lamb, breadcrumbs, cilantro, egg, 1 teaspoon each garlic paste and salt, and remaining teaspoon coriander and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne. Divide into 24 pieces; roll into balls. Stuff each meatball with a prune quarter; roll to enclose.
• Add meatballs to simmering sauce (add water if meatballs are not covered by sauce). Cook until sauce has thickened, about 40 minutes. Stir in garam masala.

SPICED WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, heat honey, oil, and 1 tablespoon water over medium heat. Add walnuts; toss to coat.
• Sprinkle the sugar, salt, cumin, coriander, and cayenne over the nuts. Cook, tossing and stirring until the nuts are well coated and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet to cool completely.

SHRIMP BALLS

Steps:

• Make the shrimp balls: In a large skillet, melt ghee over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; season with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until softened, about 12 minutes. Add spice blend and cook 2 minutes. Stir in pine nuts and raisins and cook 2 minutes more. Set aside to cool.
• In a food processor, pulse shrimp until finely minced. Transfer to a bowl and fold in lemon zest, cilantro, and dill. Fold in reserved onion mixture; set aside.
• Make the sauce: Place tamarind in a small bowl and add just enough hot water to cover. Let soak until softened, at least 15 minutes. Mash with a fork before straining through a sieve into a bowl. Press on any remaining solids in sieve before discarding. Set aside.
• In a large skillet, melt ghee over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, about 12 minutes. Add chile, coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Add tomato paste, loumi, cinnamon, tomatoes, and reserved tamarind liquid. Cook until tomatoes are softened, about 10 minutes. Add 4 cups water and simmer sauce for 10 minutes. Season with salt.
• Using a 2-tablespoon scoop, form shrimp mixture into balls, adding directly into sauce as they are formed. Cover and let cook 5 minutes. Uncover and gently turn balls, then cover again and continue to cook until opaque throughout, about 5 minutes more. Stir in cilantro and dill just before serving.