
Haraa Bharaa Fish Tikka
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)Garam masala for the marinade
1.3 gBlended into the green herb marinade (step 5)Dried mango powder garnish
0 gSprinkled over the grilled salmon (step 14)Everything else
Method
- Crush 9 g garlic and 6 g ginger root in a pestle and mortar until coarse, not smooth.
- Scrape the garlic-ginger mixture into a wide bowl.
- Stir in 25 g lime juice, the black pepper for the salmon base (1.1 g) and 27 g vegetable oil.
- Add 500 g salmon fillet chunks and turn to coat.
- Leave aside while you make the marinade.
- 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.
- Pour the green marinade over the salmon and mix well.
- Marinate for 15–20 minutes.
- Heat the grill (broiler) to a medium-high setting.
- Line a baking tray with foil and set a wire rack over it.
- Lift the salmon from the marinade and place on the wire rack.
- Keep the leftover marinade for basting.
- Grill for 10–12 minutes, until the fish is just cooked through.
- Halfway through grilling, brush the salmon with the leftover marinade.
- Sprinkle the dried mango powder garnish over the hot salmon.
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Garlic

Garlic pasteUse equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.
Garlic powderUse 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.
ShallotUse 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 pasteUse equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.
Ground gingerUse 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

LemonUse the same weight; sharper and less floral, so reduce any extra souring slightly.
Lemon juiceUse about 30 g juice per lime (2 tbsp), strain pips; add at the end for fresh sourness.
Dried mango powderUse 1 g amchoor for about 15 g lime juice; add early with spices; gives dry mango sourness, not citrus aroma.

Black pepper

Black peppercornUse the same weight and crush or grind as the recipe needs; whole peppercorn is the same spice.
Ground black pepperUse the same weight; add nearer the end if the recipe calls for whole pepper, as ground loses aroma faster.
Ground white pepperUse about 75–80% of the weight; it is milder and earthier, with less bite.

Vegetable oil

Peanut oilUse 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.
GheeUse 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.
Mustard oilUse 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Salmon fillet

TroutUse the same weight; cook 1–2 minutes less, as trout is usually thinner.
Sea trout filletUse the same weight; similar oily flesh, but check for fine bones.
Firm white fish filletUse the same weight; cook 2–3 minutes less and handle gently, as it flakes more.

Amchoor powder

Ground dried mango powderUse the same weight; same sour mango flavour. Add early so it can soften into the dish.
Dried mango powderGrind to a powder and use the same weight. Slightly coarser unless finely ground.
Lemon juiceUse 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 leavesUse the same weight; this is the same herb, so flavour is unchanged.
Mint leavesUse the same weight; stronger and cooler, so add at the end and use a little less if you want a mild result.
Coriander leavesUse the same weight; milder and softer, add at the end.

Coriander

Coriander leafUse equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.
MintUse 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 chilliUse the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.
Green chilliUse 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.
Fresh green chilliUse 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Garam masala

Ground cuminUse 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 mixUse 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

Hung natural yoghurtUse the same weight and whisk smooth; same thick consistency.
Full-fat natural yoghurtUse 1.25 times the weight and strain through muslin for 30 minutes; looser if not strained.
Hung yogurtUse the same weight; virtually identical.
Similar dishes

- Same: Both are grilled fish tikka with a yoghurt marinade and garlic, ginger and garam masala.
- Different: Tandoori Fish Tikka with Turmeric, Carom Seeds & Chaat Masala uses cod, turmeric, carom seeds, chaat masala, chickpea flour, ghee and mustard oil, while this dish uses salmon, lime, dried mango powder, basil, coriander, green bird's-eye chilli and vegetable oil.

- Same: Tikaht Modaka shares vegetable oil, green chilli, garlic, lime, garam masala, salt and fish with this dish.
- Different: Tikaht Modaka uses whitebait or herring, cumin seed, coriander, sugar and garlic paste and is braised, while this dish uses salmon, yoghurt, basil, coriander, dried mango powder and is grilled on skewers.

- Same: Bengali Macher Jhol shares fish, green bird's-eye chilli, garlic, ginger, vegetable oil, garam masala and coriander with this dish.
- Different: Bengali Macher Jhol uses sea bass, potato, tomato, water, turmeric, nigella seeds, bay leaf and English mustard and is simmered as a gravy, while this dish uses salmon with basil, Greek yoghurt, lime and dried mango powder and is grilled as skewers.

- Same: It shares fish, chilli heat, coriander and vegetable oil with this dish.
- Different: It uses firm white fish, coconut, tamarind, fenugreek and turmeric in a simmered curry, while this dish uses salmon with a lime-and-oil soak and a basil, coriander, green chilli and yoghurt coating for grilling.






























