Non-vegetarian●●●Origin AwadhPrep 30–40 minutes, plus marinating timeCook 40 minutes
Whole fish packed with a fragrant mixture of golden onions, fresh herbs, and spiced aromatics. Cooked gently until tender, it balances savoury depth with bright herbal freshness.
Make diagonal cuts across both sides of 1 cleaned fish. Place it in a wide platter, rub thoroughly with salt to taste, and coat with the juice of 1 lime. Cover and rest in the fridge for 2 hours.
Warm 26.4 g ghee in a skillet set over medium heat. Tip in 450 g onion and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes until richly browned.
Incorporate the filling masala, 50 g mint, 50 g coriander leaf, and salt to taste. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes, then remove the pan from the heat.
Pack the spiced herb mixture into the belly of the marinated fish and bind securely with kitchen twine.
Lightly coat a large, shallow kadhai or frying pan with vegetable oil to taste. Lay the stuffed fish in the pan and cook over low heat for around 30 minutes until thoroughly cooked through.
Use 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.
Use 80% of the weight, finely shredded and browned slowly with a pinch of asafoetida. Replicates the bulk and natural sweetness in gravies without allium.
Use about 30% of the weight of fresh mint. Rub between your palms to crush before stirring in; the flavour will be more intensely herbal and less bright.