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Bengal · Rohu

Bengali Rohu in Poppy Seed Gravy

Rui Posto

Posto, white poppy seed, is a Bengali comfort food. Ground with green chilies into a creamy paste, it turns fried rohu steaks into a mild, nutty, gently spicy curry for a weekday lunch with rice.

  • Prep 30 min
  • Cook 25 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Medium
Photo: Sourav Saha / Adobe Stock
Served with: Bengali Crispy Potato Matchsticks ↓En Español

Ingredients

Tap each item as you gather it.

For the fish

For the posto gravy

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Method

Step by step, the way it is done there.

  1. Make the posto paste. Soak the poppy seeds in warm water 20 minutes, drain, and grind with the green chilies and 2 tablespoons of water into a smooth paste.
  2. Fry the fish. Rub the steaks with turmeric and salt. Heat the mustard oil until it smokes, lower the heat and fry the fish until lightly browned. Set aside.
  3. Cook the onions. In the same oil fry the onions until soft and golden, then add the tomato and cook until it melts.
  4. Spice. Add the turmeric, chili powder and salt and cook until the oil shows at the edges.
  5. Add the posto. Stir in the poppy seed paste and cook 4–5 minutes, then add the warm water and bring to a gentle simmer.
  6. Finish. Return the fish, simmer 5–6 minutes until the gravy thickens, drizzle a little raw mustard oil, scatter cilantro and serve with rice.

On the side

The side dish that belongs with it, full recipe included.

Bengali Crispy Potato Matchsticks
Bangladesh & Bengal

Bengali Crispy Potato Matchsticks

Jhuri Aloo Bhaja

Potatoes cut into thin matchsticks and fried crisp with a little turmeric and salt. Bengalis scatter them over rice and dal next to a fish curry.

  • Prep 10 min
  • Cook 15 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy

You need

  • 3 medium potatoes
  • ½ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp salt
  • Mustard or vegetable oil, for frying
  • 1 pinch chili powder (optional)

How to make it

  1. Cut. Peel the potatoes and cut them into very thin matchsticks.
  2. Rinse. Rinse in cold water to wash off the starch, then dry them very well on a towel.
  3. Season. Toss with the turmeric and salt.
  4. Fry. Fry in hot oil in small batches, stirring, until golden and crisp. Drain and sprinkle with chili powder if you like.

More ways to cook Rohu

Same fish, a different kitchen.

Kolkata, India & Dhaka, BangladeshBengali Rohu Fish and Potato Curry
Chandpur, BangladeshBangladeshi Hilsa in Mustard Sauce