An enthralling plate showcasing a luscious, char-grilled mackerel resting atop fluffy white jasmine rice. The mackerel's skin glistens, erubescent from the tandoori spice. Caramelized onions, stewed until they've lost their crisp and gained sweet, earthy tones, sprinkled atop. A spoonful of tangy tamarind chutney on the side brings a pop of deep amber color. Crushed pistachios for the finishing touch, sprinkled for a hint of green.

Tandoori Mackerel with Fenugreek Caramelized Onions and Tamarind Chutney

Name: Tandoori Mackerel with Fenugreek Caramelized Onions and Tamarind Chutney
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Fusion
Ingredients: 4 fillets mackerel fillets, bones removed; 2 tablespoons tandoori spice mix; a handful dried fenugreek leaves; 2 onions sliced; 2 tablespoons tamarind paste; 1 tablespoon jaggery sugar can be replaced by brown sugar; 2 cups jasmine rice; a handful pistachios crushed; 2 tablespoons olive oil; to taste salt

Spiced mackerel, tamarind chutney, fenugreek onions, aromatic rice

Category Main Course

Prep 40 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Fusion

Technique Grilling

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily recipe · October 18, 2023

A little about this dish

This original fusion recipe takes cues from the traditional Indian flavors, but adds a unique spin by using fresh mackerel. The heartiness of the mackerel pairs perfectly with the warm, aromatic spices and the tanginess of the tamarind chutney, making this a complete and nutritionally balanced main course.

Ingredients (for 4)

Mackerel fillets, bones removed — 4 fillets
Tandoori spice mix — 2 tablespoons
Dried fenugreek leaves — a handful
Onions — 2 — sliced
Tamarind paste — 2 tablespoons
Jaggery sugar — 1 tablespoon — can be replaced by brown sugar
Jasmine rice — 2 cups
Pistachios — a handful — crushed
Olive oil — 2 tablespoons
Salt — to taste

Preparation

Step 1 — 🐟🌶️⏲️

Marinate the mackerel fillets with the tandoori spice mix and a pinch of salt. Let it set for 30 minutes.
Step 2 — 🍳🧅🔥

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a pan and add sliced onions. Cook until caramelized, then add dried fenugreek leaves. Season with salt and keep warm.
Step 3 — 🥣🍬🔥

Heat jaggery sugar in a pan until melted, add tamarind paste, cook until they combine into a thick sauce.
Step 4 — 🐟🔥⏲️

Preheat your grill on high. Brush the mackerel fillets with olive oil and grill for about 4 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
Step 5 — 🍚🥣🔥

Cook jasmine rice according to package instructions.
Step 6 — 🍚🐟🍽️

Place a bed of jasmine rice on each plate, lay the grilled mackerel over, top with caramelized fenugreek onions, a spoonful of tamarind chutney on the side. Sprinkle crushed pistachios over.

A final fox tip

The tandoori spice mixed with tamarind offers a burst of flavors that's unlike anything in traditional dishes. Tamarind is a wonderful source of antioxidants that's both delicious and healthy. Experiment with different kinds of rice such as brown or wild for added nutritional benefits and texture variation. Kids can help with the stirring of the caramelized onions under supervision.