Odisha Machha Jhola Fish Curry Light

Ingredients

• 500 g rohu fish or any river fish — cut into steaks
• 1 tsp turmeric for marinating, salt for marinating
• For the mustard paste:
• 2 tbsp yellow mustard seeds soaked 20 minutes
• 1 green chilli
• a pinch of salt
• 3 tbsp mustard oil
• 1/2 tsp panch phoron
• 2 dried red chilli
• 1 onion — finely chopped
• 1 tomato — chopped
• 1 tsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 cup water, salt to taste
• coriander leaves for garnish

Method

1. Marinate the fish: Rub fish steaks with 1 tsp turmeric and salt. Rest 10 minutes. Pat dry after resting.
2. Make the mustard paste: Drain soaked mustard seeds. Grind with green chilli and a pinch of salt to a smooth paste with 2 tbsp water.
3. Heat mustard oil until smoking: Heat 3 tbsp mustard oil in a wide pan to smoking point. Reduce to medium.
4. Fry the fish: Fry the marinated fish steaks for 2 minutes per side until golden. Remove and keep aside. The frying creates a golden crust that holds the fish together in the jhola.
5. Add panch phoron and dried red chilli: In the same oil add panch phoron — all five seeds will crackle. Add dried red chilli. Stir 15 seconds.
6. Cook onion: Add finely chopped onion. Cook 6 minutes until golden.
7. Add ginger, tomato and spices: Add ginger paste — stir 1 minute. Add chopped tomato — cook 4 minutes. Turn to low. Add red chilli powder and turmeric — stir 1 minute.
8. Add mustard paste: Add the ground mustard paste. Stir and cook 2 minutes.
9. Add water and fish: Add 1 cup water and salt. Bring to a simmer. Gently add the fried fish steaks. Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 minutes. The fish will absorb the thin jhola and the mustard flavour will infuse throughout.
10. Serve: Scatter coriander leaves. Serve over steamed rice — the thin jhola is poured generously over the rice.
11. Note: Machha Jhola (machha = fish, jhola = thin curry) is the everyday fish preparation of Odisha. Unlike the thicker Bengali fish curries, Odia jhola is intentionally thin and flowing — designed to be poured over rice and eaten mixed together. Mustard oil and mustard paste are defining elements. Rohu is the preferred river fish across the state. Fish is central to Odia culture — the fishing tradition along the Bay of Bengal coast and the Mahanadi river system supplies Odisha with abundant fresh fish.