Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Haraa Bharaa Fish Tikka
Haraa Bharaa Fish Tikka (Salmon Tikka Skewers Marinated in Green Chilli, Basil & Coriander)

Haraa Bharaa Fish Tikka

Salmon Tikka Skewers Marinated in Green Chilli, Basil & Coriander
Non-vegetarianOrigin Gujarat

Salmon chunks take a quick lime-and-oil soak, then a vivid green herb, chilli and yoghurt coating before grilling. The result is smoky, herby and lightly spicy.

Black pepper for the salmon base

1.1 gStirred into the lime-oil bowl (step 3)
01
1.1 g½ teaspoon
spice
Crush coarsely before adding.

Garam masala for the marinade

1.3 gBlended into the green herb marinade (step 5)
01
1.3 g½ teaspoon
spice blend
Add it to the blender with the yoghurt and salt.

Dried mango powder garnish

0 gSprinkled over the grilled salmon (step 14)
01
to taste
spice
Keep it ready to dust over the fish after grilling.

Everything else

01
9 g3 cloves
aromatic
02
12 g3 cm
aromatic
03
25 g½ lime
fruit
04
27 g2 tablespoons
oil/fat
05
Salmon filletcut into 4 cm (1½ in) chunks
500 g
fish
06
Basil · Tulsiroughly chopped
60 g
herb
07
Coriander · Dhaniaroughly chopped
50 g
herb
08
3 g2 chillies
vegetable
09
Garlic · Lehsunroughly chopped
3 g1 clove
aromatic
10
30 g2 tablespoons
dairy
11
to taste
salt

Method

  1. Crush 9 g garlic and 6 g ginger root in a pestle and mortar until coarse, not smooth.
  2. Scrape the garlic-ginger mixture into a wide bowl.
  3. Stir in 25 g lime juice, the black pepper for the salmon base (1.1 g) and 27 g vegetable oil.
  4. Add 500 g salmon fillet chunks and turn to coat.
  5. Leave aside while you make the marinade.
  6. Blend 60 g basil, 50 g coriander, 4 g green bird's-eye chilli, 3 g garlic, the garam masala for the marinade (1.3 g), 30 g greek yoghurt and salt to taste until smooth.
  7. Pour the green marinade over the salmon and mix well.
  8. Marinate for 15–20 minutes.
  9. Heat the grill (broiler) to a medium-high setting.
  10. Line a baking tray with foil and set a wire rack over it.
  11. Lift the salmon from the marinade and place on the wire rack.
  12. Keep the leftover marinade for basting.
  13. Grill for 10–12 minutes, until the fish is just cooked through.
  14. Halfway through grilling, brush the salmon with the leftover marinade.
  15. Sprinkle the dried mango powder garnish over the hot salmon.

Don't have something?

Garlic
  • Garlic paste

    Use equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.

  • Garlic powder

    Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.

  • Shallot

    Use 1.5 times the weight, very finely minced. Sauté until golden; provides savoury allium sweetness, though it lacks garlic's pungent sulphur bite.

Fresh ginger
  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.

Lime
  • Lemon

    Use the same weight; sharper and less floral, so reduce any extra souring slightly.

  • Lemon juice

    Use about 30 g juice per lime (2 tbsp), strain pips; add at the end for fresh sourness.

  • Dried mango powder

    Use 1 g amchoor for about 15 g lime juice; add early with spices; gives dry mango sourness, not citrus aroma.

Black pepper
  • Black peppercorn

    Use the same weight and crush or grind as the recipe needs; whole peppercorn is the same spice.

  • Ground black pepper

    Use the same weight; add nearer the end if the recipe calls for whole pepper, as ground loses aroma faster.

  • Ground white pepper

    Use about 75–80% of the weight; it is milder and earthier, with less bite.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Salmon fillet
  • Trout

    Use the same weight; cook 1–2 minutes less, as trout is usually thinner.

  • Sea trout fillet

    Use the same weight; similar oily flesh, but check for fine bones.

  • Firm white fish fillet

    Use the same weight; cook 2–3 minutes less and handle gently, as it flakes more.

Amchoor powder
  • Ground dried mango powder

    Use the same weight; same sour mango flavour. Add early so it can soften into the dish.

  • Dried mango powder

    Grind to a powder and use the same weight. Slightly coarser unless finely ground.

  • Lemon juice

    Use 5–6 times the weight, e.g. 1 tsp powder to about 5 tsp juice; add off the heat. Wetter and fresher-tasting.

Basil
  • Basil leaves

    Use the same weight; this is the same herb, so flavour is unchanged.

  • Mint leaves

    Use the same weight; stronger and cooler, so add at the end and use a little less if you want a mild result.

  • Coriander leaves

    Use the same weight; milder and softer, add at the end.

Coriander
  • Coriander leaf

    Use equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.

  • Mint

    Use 40% to 50% of the weight; chop finely and add at the very end. Adds fresh herbal brightness, but shifts the aroma toward cool menthol.

Green bird's eye chilli
  • Bird's eye green chilli

    Use the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.

  • Green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.

  • Fresh green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Greek yoghurt

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