Fry

Amritsar Fish Fry

by:
August  9, 2018
3.5
4 Ratings
Amritsar Fish Fry
Photo by Julia Gartland
  • Prep time 30 minutes
  • Cook time 5 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

A street food staple, Amritsari Macchi is a famous fish fry from the Northern Indian town of Punjab. This recipe, a lighter, more home cook-friendly version of the iconic dish, comes from my family's guesthouse. —Shirin Bhandari

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 pound white and firm fish cut into fillets (sole, catfish etc.)
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 or 2 pinches salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons besan (chickpea flour)
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon chopped cilantro
  • 1-2 pieces chopped green chili
  • 1 piece egg
  • 2 cups or more neutral oil for deep frying
Directions
  1. Marinate fish in a bowl with salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, red chili powder, turmeric together with the vinegar and lemon juice for at least 30 minutes.
  2. For the batter, combine the flour and besan, caraway seeds, chopped cilantro, and chilies. Whisk in one egg until smooth. Add a few spoons of water to loosen the batter if necessary.
  3. Add marinated fish and coat each piece lightly in batter.
  4. Heat oil and carefully add fish one at a time. Deep fry until evenly brown and crisp for about 5 minutes depending on the size of the fillets.
  5. Drain excess oil on a paper towel. Serve hot with lemon wedges and mint and coriander chutney. Namaste!
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  • Rey Compañeros
    Rey Compañeros
  • Shirin Bhandari
    Shirin Bhandari
  • vrinda
    vrinda
  • Bill Bodewig
    Bill Bodewig

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4 Reviews

vrinda
vrinda January 9, 2020
THE best fish recipe I've ever made !
Thanks
 
Rey C.
Rey C. August 19, 2018
This recipe needs some serious editing.

1) Tumeric? Where does that go?

2) 1 Egg for all that flour? I got a sticky lump.

Any thoughts or assistance would be appreciated

 
Shirin B.
Shirin B. September 25, 2018
Hi Rey, I've edited the recipe, you may add a bit of water to loosen the batter. The turmeric goes into the marinade. Thanks for pointing it out.
 
Bill B.
Bill B. August 16, 2018
Brings back memories of the Punjab and the many dhabas were the food was better than in many 5-star hotels.
Who can forget the fish or the koftas or the remark by the waiter who, when asked to clean the table that stuck to your hand better than instant glue, do you come for the food or the furniture. And the music: Jagjit Singh singing Na Jawani Nal Chaldi.