Bhetki Begum Bahar, also known as Fish Begum Bahar, is a signature Bengali fish dish. It features Bhetki Fish, also called Indian Barramundi, cooked in a flavorful curry. This rich and delicious fish curry is popular for special occasions, such as wedding celebrations in Bengal.
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- Marriage feast special Bhetki Begum Bahar
- Fish Begum Bahar from a cookbook
- Recipe Card
- Fish/ Seafood recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar
- Pairing
- Similar Recipes using Bhetki Maach
- Have you tried the Fish Begum Bahar recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
- Here's the Bengali Bhetki Macher Begum Bahar Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board!
Marriage feast special Bhetki Begum Bahar
Mehebub inquired about the Bhetki Begum Bahar dish last Sunday while enjoying the flavorful Bengali-style fish curry with rice. I was also having the same meal. Our daughter, Pasta, had finished her lunch and paid little attention to the question.
"What do you mean to say? Don't you like Bhetki Begum Bahar or what?" I asked quite surprisingly! As far as I know, he loves Bhetki Mach a lot. In fact, the market nearby us is loaded with a fresh supply of Bhetki Mach, and needless to say, I am purchasing the same quite regularly. In general, I make Bhetki Macher Aloo Phulkopir Jhol or a simple mishmash with the fish head or at times Pasta's favorite Chilli Fish. Bhetki Begum Bahar is not a regular dish at my place. It was the day after Eid and I purchased a big fat Bhetki Mach of around 3 Kg, My fish vendor made a few Begum Bahar pieces, and some fish fillet for the fish fry and I took the entire fish fat to make Mache Tel Chorchori and used the head and bones to make Chanchra.
He then replied; "It is not that I don't like Bhetki Begum Bahar! I just wanted to know why this name and what makes it different than Bhetki Macher Kalia?"
"You mean you wanted to know the origin of Bhetki Begum Bahar?" I asked while finishing the last fish chunk that was remaining on my plate. Okay, here is what I know about this dish.
Fish Begum Bahar from a cookbook
One of my favorite cookbooks, Prajnasundari Devi's Amish o Niramish Ranna has the recipe there. Also, I have heard about this particular dish from Dida a lot. I assume it was started sometime back in the 19th century. Considering the cooking process, I think it is being influenced by the Chinese process of cooking. The dish is rich and maybe the name if I am not wrong!
By the way, this was a regular item cooked at home for the feasts, whenever Ilish or Chingri were not on the menu or at times with these two as well. I remember having it during Jamaishasti at Mamar Bari. Dida used to make it. The recipe calls for specially cut pieces of Bhetki fish and in fact, that signifies Bhetki Begum Bahar. Apart from that, the fish chunks are coated with a paste of All-purpose flour aka Moida which makes it different than other Bengali fish curries.
By then Mehebub was satisfied with my answers and we finished our lunch with Kacha Aamer Ambol. Needless to say, I clicked the pictures while cooking and also after cooking the dish so that a blog post could be formed. Here's how I cook Bhetki Begum Bahar and the tips and tricks.
Recipe Card
Bhetki Begum Bahar
The signature Bengali dish, Bhetki Begum Bahar, is a flavorful fish curry made with Bhetki fish, also known as Barramundi. This rich and delectable curry is a traditional delicacy often served at celebratory events like weddings in Bengal.
Ingredients
- 6 pieces Bhetki Mach/ Barramundi Fish refer to the picture for the cut
Marination Stage 1:
- 1 Tsp. Turmeric Powder
- ½ Tsp. Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
- ½ Tsp. Salt
- 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
Marination Stage 2:
- 1 Egg
- 2 Tbsp. All-purpose Flour
- 1 Tsp. Semolina/ Sooji
- 1.5 tbsp. Garlic Paste
- 1 Tbsp. Ginger Paste
- ½ Tsp. Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
- `½ Tsp. Salt
To make the Spice Paste:
- 20 Cashew nut
- 20 Raisin
- 2 Tbsp. Poppyseed aka Posto
- ¼ Mace
- ½ Nutmeg
- 15 Black Pepper
- 1- inch Cinnamon Stick
To make the Gravy:
- ½ cup from the step 2 marination
- 3 Tbsp. Spice Paste
- 4 Tbsp. Onion Paste
- 1 Tbsp. Garlic Paste
- ½ Tbsp. Ginger Paste
- 4 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
- ½ Tsp. Turmeric Powder
- 1 Tsp. Kashmiri Red Chili Powder
- ½ Tsp. Sahi Garam Masala Powder
- ½ Tsp. Cumin Powder
- 2 inches Cinnamon Stick
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1 Dry Red Chili
- 1 Black Cardamom
- 3 Green Cardamom
- 2 Tsp. Sugar
- 1 Tsp. Salt or to Taste
Other:
- 5 Tbsp. Mustard Oil
- 1 Tbsp. Ghee
Instructions
- Wash fish chunks thoroughly.
Marination Stage 1:
- Marinate Fish Chunks with Turmeric Powder, Red Chili Powder, Salt and Lemon Juice for 30 minutes.
Marination Stage 2:
- Make a paste with Egg, All-purpose Flour, Semolina, Garlic Paste, Ginger Paste, Kashmiri Red Chili Powder, and Salt.
- Coat fish chunks with this paste and leave those for 30 minutes.
to make the spice paste:
- Soak Cashew nut, Raisin, Poppyseed, Mace, Nutmeg, Black Pepper and Cinnamon Stick in lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
- Make a smooth paste of the spices and the nuts.
To make Bhetki Begum Bahar:
- Heat Oil in a deep bottom pan.
- Fry coated fish chunks in low flame from both the side till those turn crispy and golden brown in color.
- Strain the fried fishes from the oil and keep aside.
- Now add half of the Ghee to the remaining oil.
- Temper the Oil with Cinnamon Stick, Bay leaf, Dry Red Chili, Black Cardamom and Green Cardamom.
- Add Onion paste and cook till the onion turn brown in color.
- Now add Garlic paste, ginger paste, and tomato paste and cook on low flame till the oil leaves the edges.
- Add the spice paste cook till the raw smell ooze out.
- Now add remaining batter used for coating the fish chunks.
- Add Sugar, Salt, Turmeric Powder Cumin Powder and cook till the spices cooked well.
- Now add 2 Cups of water and bring the mixture into a boil and cook till the gravy thickens.
- Once the gravy started boiling add fried fish followed by remaining ghee and garam masala powder.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes and switch the flame off.
- Don't overcook after adding the fishes as Bhetki is having very soft texture.
Notes
- You may cook the Begum Bahar can be cooked with other Freshwater Fishes.
- This dish is signified by the special but of the fish chunks and the way the fish is marinated and fried.
- You may adjust the Red Chili Powder as per taste.
- Instead of All-purpose Flour and Semolina, you may use cornflour to make the batter.
Nutrition
Fish/ Seafood recipes from Debjanir Rannaghar
- Bhetki Macher Paturi (also known as Bhetki Paturi)
- Doi Maach (also known as Fish in Curd or Fish in Yogurt Curry)
- Doodh Maach (also known as Fish cooked with Milk)
- Malabar Fish Curry (Also known as Malabari Fish)
- Kolkata Style Chilli Fish (also known as Chili Fish)
- Shorshe Bata diye Parshe Macher Jhal (also known as Mullet Fish in Mustard Gravy)
- Biye Barir Macher Kalia (Also known as Bengali Fish Kalia)
- Ilish Macher Korma (Also known as Fish Korma)
- Chingri Macher Malaikari (Also known as Prawn Malai curry)
- Malabar Squid Curry (Also known as Nadan Koonthal Curry)
- South Indian Prawn Curry (Also known as Southern Prawn Curry)
- Bhetki Maacher Aloo Phulkopi diye Kalia (Also known as Light Bekti Curry with Potato & Cauliflower)
- Bhapa Chingri (Also known as Bengali Chingri Bhapa)
- Ilish Macher Tok (Also known as Lish Macher Ambol)
- Charapona Macher Kabiraji Jhol (also known as Charapona Macher Jhol)
- Creamy Butter Garlic Crab (Also known as Butter Garlic Crab)
- Kakrar Jhal (also known as Bengali Crab Curry)
- Piajkoli ar Aloo diye Tangra Macher Jhol (Also known as Bengali Light fish curry prepared with Tyangra Maach, Onion Stalks, and Potato)
- Bori Begun Aloo diye Ilish Macher Tel Jhol (Also known as Light Hilsa Curry with Veggies and Lentil Dumpling)
Pairing
Similar Recipes using Bhetki Maach
Have you tried the Fish Begum Bahar recipe from Debjanir Rannaghar!
I would love to see a picture if you are making it following my recipe. You can share here at dolonchttrj@gmail.com. You can use my hashtag #debjanirrannaghar and share it through Instagram as well. and in addition, you can tag me at @foodofdebjani.
Here's the Bengali Bhetki Macher Begum Bahar Recipe Pin for your Pinterest Board!
About Debjani Chatterjee Alam
I am Debjani Chatterjee Alam. A CSR specialist by profession and a food writer, food blogger, and food photographer as well. I live in Kolkata along with my Husband Mehebub who is an architect by profession, my daughter Pasta, and also my dog daughters Coffee and Luchi.
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