
Tikaht Modaka
A quick, zesty Goan fish preparation of delicate whitebait braised with green chillies, garlic, and lime juice, finished with a fragrant dusting of garam masala.
Whole spices for the oil
2.1 gFried in the hot oil (step 1)Garlic paste
16 gSautéed with the aromatics and seasoning (step 2)Finishing spice
2.6 gDusted over the cooked fish before serving (step 4)Everything else
Method
- Warm 27 g vegetable oil in a pan set over medium heat, then tip in the whole spices for the oil (2.1 g cumin seed) and fry for about 1 minute until darkened.
- Add 1 g chopped coriander leaves, the garlic paste (15.6 g garlic paste), 24 g green chilli, 4.2 g granulated sugar, and salt to taste, cooking together for 1 minute.
- Tumble in 1000 g whitebait and pour over 30.6 g lime juice, turning carefully to combine. Drop the heat to low, cover with a lid, and let simmer for 10 minutes until the fish is tender and cooked through.
- Scatter the finishing spice (2.6 g garam masala) across the top immediately before taking to the table.
Don't have something?

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.

Cumin seed

Ground cuminUse 70% of the weight; add with ground spices or sauce bases rather than hot oil tempering, where it scorches quickly and turns bitter.
Black cumin seedsUse equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.
Fennel seedUse 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

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.

Garlic paste

GarlicUse equal weight; crush or finely grate to a smooth pulp to replicate the same fresh, pungent moisture in your base gravy.
Garlic powderUse 20 to 25% of the weight; mix with a teaspoon of water before adding to oil so it does not burn, noting it lacks the fresh bite.

Green chilli

Chilli powderUse 10 to 15% of the weight (about 1/4 teaspoon per chilli); imparts dry pungent heat and reddens the dish without the grassy crunch.
Dried red chilliUse 1 dried pod per fresh green chilli; snap in half and temper in hot oil for a deeper, toastier heat.

Granulated sugar

JaggeryUse equal weight; grate or shave finely so it dissolves rapidly, giving a warm, caramel-like sweetness and slightly darker sauce.

Whitebait or herring

Small whole fishUse the same weight; clean and dry well, and fry 1–2 minutes longer if larger.
SardineUse the same weight; gut and score larger fish, and add 3–5 minutes cooking.
Whole mackerelUse the same weight; score the skin and cook 5–8 minutes longer, or cut into pieces.

Lime juice

Lemon juiceUse equal volume or weight; slightly sweeter and less pungent, but otherwise an imperceptible swap.
Dried mango powderUse 25% of the weight; imparts dry, fruity sourness, best stirred in right at the end of cooking.
Tamarind extractUse 50% of the weight; delivers pleasant fruity tang but turns pale sauces considerably darker.

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.
Similar dishes

- Same: Kothmiratil Machhi shares the same main fish, green chilli, garlic, lime juice, sugar, and salt with this dish.
- Different: Kothmiratil Machhi adds rice flour, coriander leaf, ginger, and turmeric and fries the fish, while this dish braises it with cumin seed, ground coriander, and garam masala and has no rice flour or coriander leaf.

- Same: Karhai Machhali shares garlic paste, green chilli, garam masala, coriander and a citrus souring agent with this dish.
- Different: It uses tomato, dried red chilli, ajwain, fenugreek, ginger and mustard oil or ghee, while this dish uses vegetable oil, cumin, sugar and lime juice and braises whitebait without tomato.

- Same: Masala Pomfret shares with this dish a Goan-style spicy fish preparation using vegetable oil, garlic, cumin seed, sugar, and salt.
- Different: Masala Pomfret uses whole pomfret, dried red chilli, vinegar, ginger, and a shallow-fried coating of chilli-vinegar paste, while this dish uses whitebait or herring braised with green chilli, lime juice, coriander, and garam masala.

- Same: Both dishes are Goan fish preparations cooked in vegetable oil with garlic, green chillies, garam masala, sugar, and lime juice.
- Different: Chincheche Talwan is a saucy curry built with tamarind extract, tomatoes, ginger, turmeric, and chilli powder, whereas this dish is a quick braise flavoured with whole cumin seeds.




















