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Tel Koi

October 7, 2020 By Maumita Paul 3 Comments

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Tel KoiPin

I have sulked all morning.
It’s unacceptable and unfair, I have rehearsed the fervent pitch in my head a hundred times over, to be presented to Bapi as soon as he returns from the hospital, Maa has been, yet again, unduly partial to Dada.
This is criminal injustice, I continue with my passionate plea. Rules are rules and cannot discriminate between me and Dada.
I fret and fume.

It’s drizzled all morning.
Despite that Dada has been outdoors with his friends, enjoying a boisterous game of soccer with his mates.
And I have been interned at home, I did implore, didn’t I,  to be allowed to accompany Didi to the backyard, the storm last evening was unusual for early autumn and I am certain, the savage brute must have orphaned loads of helpless fruits and vegetables, shaking them ruthlessly off the safe refuge of branches.
And nothing gives me more sublime joy than foraging for produce after a storm.
But my appeals fell on deaf years.
And I am seething with anger.

Maa has of-course tried hard, patiently reasoning it out to me.
I have just recovered from fever, I am still vulnerable, my immunity is still weak, it’s not a great idea to get drenched in the rains at this point.
Dada’s exams are already over, (he can have a bit of a break, can’t he ?), mine are just round the corner.
I have been stubborn though.
No logic has helped.

Tel KoiPin

And here am I, cooped up on Grandmas grand four-poster, a blanket hurled over me, the pillow, drenched in tears, bearing testimony to my maudlin sobs and sniffles.

Didi comes to the room to announce lunch.
I pretend to not be listening.
Radio silence.
Outside the window, two butterflies chase each other silly.

Didi visits again, Bhai is waiting for you, please come over for lunch. She earnestly pleads.
The mention of Dada irritates me even further.
I choose not to respond.

I can now hear Maa’s voice at the other end of the daalan. Lunch is ready and I need to hurry.
Truant sunlight projects silhouettes of the gnarled guava tree on the spartan whitewashed wall.
A pair of drenched doves rest on the clothes line.
A hungry drongo scouts for food in the yard.
I don’t know when I drift off to sleep.

When I wake up, Grandma is beside me, patting my head.
What happened to my Princess ? Why’s she all grumble this morning ?
I burst into tears.
The pitch, prepared for Bapi, articulating my miseries and the grave unfairness against me, is now passionately presented to Grandma.

But did I tell you that Bouma has cooked Tel Koi for you today ? And she has reserved the bigger fish for you. There’s a sparkle in her eyes. Come on, let’s hurry, Tel Koi is not half as much fun when it gets cold.
Tel Koi ? My eyes light up. And you are sure, my koi is bigger than Dada’s ?
Yes of course, Grandma confirms.

Tel KoiPin

Tel Koi. Yet another quintessential Bengali delicacy. Gorgeous Koi. The earthy aroma of cumin and fennel. A whiff of fenugreek. The zing of mustard oil. Cooked over an ebbing flame. Decadent and delicious.
Enjoy !!!

 

Tel KoiPin

Tel Koi

Tel Koi. Yet another quintessential Bengali delicacy. Gorgeous Koi. The earthy aroma of cumin and fennel. A whiff of fenugreek. The zing of mustard oil. Decadent and delicious. Enjoy !!!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 4-5 pieces koi maach or climbing perch
  • 2 tbsp onion paste
  • 1 tsp ginger paste
  • 1 tsp green chilli paste
  • 1 tsp fenugreek seeds
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 2-3 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
  • 5-6 green chillies slit
  • 3/4 cup mustard oil
  • salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Soak the cumin seeds, fennel seeds and bay levaes in warm water for 2 odd hours. Drain from water, grind to a smooth paste.
  • Marinate the fish with the masala paste (from the last step), onion paste, ginger paste, green chilli paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and 1 tbsp mustard oil. Keep aside, some 30 minutes or so.
  • Heat the remaining oil in a heavy bottomed pan, throw in the fenugreek seeds . Allow the seeds to splutter. Once the fenugreek seeds have released their aroma, carefully discard the fenugreek seeds from the hot oil.
  • Gently place the fish in the oil, pour in the remaining marinate, give it a gentle mix. Sauté for a couple of minutes.
  • Throw in the green chillies, add a sprinkle of salt. Cover and cook till the fish is cooked and oil starts to separate from the masala.
  • Adjust seasonings, rest for 15 minutes. Serve hot.
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Filed Under: Bengali Recipes, Fish and Seafood Tagged With: Bengali Fish Curry, Bengali Fish Photography, Bengali Food Blog, Bengali Food Photography, Bengali Food styling, Bengali Recipes, Bengali Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen, Durga Pujar Bhruibhoj, Durga pujo recipes, Durga Pujor Ranna, Fish, Food Blog, Food Photography, Food Styling, Indian Food Photography, Koi, Koi Maach, Koi Mach, Koi Mach Recipes, Non Vegetarian, Tel Koi, Traditional Bengali Recipes, Traditional Recipes From Grandmas Kitchen

Previous Post: « Bhetki Maacher Jhal
Next Post: Kumro Phooler Pur (Stuffed Pumpkin Flower Fritters) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rajesh Chakrabarty

    October 9, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Do we need to grind the bay leaves also along with cumin and fenugreek?

    Reply
    • Maumita Paul

      October 18, 2020 at 7:15 am

      Yes Rajesh, but you have to grind fennel seeds not fenugreek.

      Reply
  2. Varun Sharma

    October 8, 2020 at 8:50 am

    Tel koi is mouthwatering dish, now i feel hungry.

    Reply

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Hello!! I am Maumita and welcome to Experiences of a Gastronomad.
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Maumita Paul
And the affair with gur continues..... Any guesses And the affair with gur continues.....
Any guesses what’s in the making this evening?.
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #pithepuli #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
There is always light. If only we are brave enough There is always light. If only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it !!
 @amandascgorman you are a genius!!!
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Submitting this to “Dark and Moody” challenge by @neethuthomasphotography and @twiggstudios . #mymysticlight 

Also submitting this to “Chiaroscuro” challenge by @happytummybyritumbhara and @stemsandforks . #foodphotobiteswithritu 
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 #food52 #tv_foodlovers #hautecuisines #capturethemoment #foodstagram #foodstyling #foodmaking @hautescuisines #indianfoodbloggers #foodpornography #photooftheday #gastronomad_m #theuncommonbox #darkphotography #capturingmoments #acreativevisual #darkandmoody #stilllife_perfection #moodylight #tastingtable #official_photography_hub #indianshutterbugs #styleonmytable #foodphotography #foodart #simpleandstill #wintervibes #lifeandthyme #moodygrams
When life gives you nolen gur, you go crazy with p When life gives you nolen gur, you go crazy with pithe puli and payesh. 
And then you make a delectable nolen gurer panacotta ❤️❤️❤️
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Recipe link is there in bio.
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #nolengur #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #photography #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #pannacotta #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Nothing more hearty than phulkopir singara and a c Nothing more hearty than phulkopir singara and a cup of masala  tea as the evenings get a tad bit colder !!! 
Any takers ? ❤️ .
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Recipe link is there in bio. 
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 #desi_diaries #storiesofkolkata #theuncommonbox #bengalifood #india_undiscovered @ig_calcutta @stories.of.kolkata #official_photography_hub #teatime #foodgasm #foodstyling #chai #foodphotography #homemade #ig_calcutta #eatseasonal @india_undiscovered @walkwithindia @tv_stilllife #tasteofkolkata #foodporn #gastronomad_m #foodtalkindia #walkwithindia #kolkatabuzz #indianshutterbugs #foodstylist #canonphotography #calcuttacacophony #onlyinbengal #snack #foodstories #acreativevisual #chai #singara #sundayvibes
Sankranti remains one of the festivals closest to Sankranti remains one of the festivals closest to my heart. 

One of those days when I miss Grandma dearly and yearn to return to childhood and relish all the delectable pithe puli she would make !!! 
Happy Sankranti everyone !!!

On the plate 
Khejur Gurer Patishapta, Doodhpuli, Teler Pitha, Nolen Gurer Payesh and Soru Chakuli.
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
New blog post ❤️ And every year, around Sankr New blog post ❤️

And every year, around Sankranthi, the chitoi pithe moulds make a magical re-appearance from the hidden vaults of the windowless sunlight-starved and perennially musty and damp bhnaarar ghor (pantry), illuminated by a lone naked incandescent bulb, before being dusted, scrubbed, soaked, dried and then used in vehement anger for the Sankranti festivities, only to disappear once the euphoria of the harvest festival subsides.
A use and throw culture has still not invaded our lives and the fact that this rather inexpensive non-descript humble artifact is used on just a couple of occasions around Sankranti every year makes not an iota of difference to the magnanimous love and care it receives.
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To read more and try this recipe of Doodh Chitoi , direct link is there in bio. 
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Its less than a week to Sankranti and my kitchen i Its less than a week to Sankranti and my kitchen is in manic frenzy this morning steaming some stunning Bhapa Pitha. 

I have always preferred freshly ground rice flour to store-bought ones. And my hand-free 1400w hamiltonbeach JMG ensured the rice was ground to fine flour, just as I wanted it, in a blink .
(Also do check the coarse, medium and fine grinding options available which gives us such luxury of choice -  I opted for the fine option for the rice flour)

And  here’s my recipe for the quintessential Bengali Bhapa Pitha / Assamese Keteli Pitha. 
Soak the rice for 2 hours, drain from water. 
Allow the rice to dry over a newspaper or muslin cloth to drain any excess water. 
Use your Hamiltonbeach JMG to blitz the rice to a fine powder.
Transfer the rice flour to a bowl, add a pinch of salt, mix well.
Splash a little water to the rice flour, start mixing with your hand. The texture of the dough should be crumbly and just damp enough. Splash water in small increments, we don’t want a wet batter here.
Sieve the moist flour .
Take a kettle, fill it half with water and bring to a boil.
Wrap the lid of the kettle with a damp muslin cloth.
Spread a layer of the rice flour uniformly over the cloth.
Add 1 tsp of freshly grated coconut on the rice flour, followed by 1 tsp of chopped jaggery And finish it with another layer of rice flour. Press gently, take care to not press it too hard.
Wrap with another piece of moist muslin, put the lid back on over the boiling water.
Steam for 10-12 minutes.
Carefully remove the lid from the kettle. 
Gently remove the outer muslin cloth. Use a sharp knife along the edges of the lid to un-mould the pitha..
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#BigBoxOfLove

#SayToHelloPerfection #ProResultsAtHome #HamiltonBeachIndia #CookLikeAPro #fbciofficial

@hamiltonbeachindia, @fbciofficial @grainandgrowth .
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #glutenfree #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #sankranti
The Doulla Pithe that Grandma (Bamma) creates is s The Doulla Pithe that Grandma (Bamma) creates is sheer magic – Pillowy rice flour parcels with a tiny morsel of patali hidden in the center. Stewed in milk perfumed with even more patali gur.
Have a bite, Grandma coaxes.
And the molten patali bursts out of the shackles of the rice flour cocoon.
The fragrance of patali and the perfume of rice leave my palate enthralled.
I take another bite.
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If you want to try this , temporary recipe link is updated in bio ❤️
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals
Can I taste one ? I ask as Maa’s experienced han Can I taste one ? I ask as Maa’s experienced hands effortlessly remove the pithe from the oil and immerse them in the jaggery syrup, but even before Maa can warn me, I have snatched one and bitten into the gokul pithe.
My tongue is singed.
And for that odd moment, I am all numb.
Minutes, that feel like days, pass.
And then the taste sinks in, sublime, a mellifluous symphony of grated coconut and jaggery.
This is food heaven !!!
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To try  recipe, temporary recipe link is updated in bio ❤️
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#dessert #sweettooth #storiesofkolkata #calcuttacacophony #foodphotography #acreativevisual #nostalgia #india_undiscovered #official_photography_hub #canonphotography #eeeeeats #foodblogfeed #photographers_of_india #theuncommonbox #eatseasonal  #gastronomad_m #foodphotography #tv_foodlovers #foodpornography #foodtalkindia #photooftheday #foodporn #sankranti #desi_diaries #capturingmagic #wearebengal #eatseasonal #winter  #cherishedmemories #makarsankranti #creatingmemories #foodthatheals

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