Fish Cutlets

This is a non vegetarian snack which is tasty , easy to make and little spicy. I usually make vegetable cutlets and Shrimp cutlets but never tried fish ones. One weekend we got fresh salmon which tasted good in a gravy. So my hubby gave the idea to make fish cutlets out of it so that it can be savored for long.Another advantage of this snack is that it can be made till the step 3, when we prepare the masala for the cutlets .flatten it and give it a coating of egg white and breadcrumbs and stored in the freezer for about two weeks. If you want to keep for long avoid the egg white and use the maida batter. You can fry it any time you want to have it fresh. Doesnt that sound good?

INGREDIENTS:

• Mashed Fish - 1 cup (you can use any type fish for this. If using boned ones u have to remove the bones after steaming it. If using boneless, just mash it after steaming)
• Turmeric powder- 1 tablespoon
• Red  chilly powder- 1 tablespoon
• Salt as needed
• Fish masala- 1 teaspoon
• Onion- 1 medium sized
• Ginger- finely grated- 1 tablespoon
• Garlic- finely grated- 1 tablespoon
• Potatoes- 2 medium sized
• Cumin seeds(Jeera)- 1 tablespoon
• Garam masala powder- 1 teaspoon
• Coriander leaves- 1 tablespoon
• Bread crumbs- 3 heaped spoons
• White of one egg- finely beaten

How to prepare:

Step1: Steam fish
Cut and clean the fish pieces . Marinate it with 1/2 tablespoon turmeric powder, 1/2 tablespoon red chilly powder and salt . After 15 minutes steam it till the fish pieces are cooked. When it is cooled mash the fish pieces. As I mentioned earlier, if it has bones remove the bones and mash the fish. Keep it aside.

Step2: Masala preparation
Microwave potatoes for five minutes. When cooled peel the skin off and grate it well.
Heat oil in a pan, add cumin seeds. When it turns brown, add chopped onions and saute till it becomes brown. then add the ginger and garlic and saute till done. Add mashed potatoes and mashed fish and mix well. Then add turmeric powder, red chilly powder ,fish masala and garam masala powder. Mix well.Add required salt and coriander leaves. Mix well. allow it to cool

Step3: Cutlet making
Take a scoop of the masala and flatten it on your palm. Dip it in the egg white and roll it on the breadcrumbs. Shallow fry it on a pan with one tablespoon oil on the bottom of the cutlet and sprinkle two drops of oil on the top. Flip it on both sides and cook well till both sides turn crisp and brown. (You can also deep fry the cutlets for a more crisp and cooked version, but as the potato masala absorbs oil it is less healthy compared to the shallow fried ones)

Step4: Serving
Serve the cutlets hot with tomato sauce, green chutney or tamarind chutney.

Tips: You can make chicken and prawn cutlets the same way. Masala is the same. If it is chicken ,marinate it with salt, turmeric powder, red chilly powder and cook it.Remove the bones and mince it. Add this to the potato masala and follow the same recipe. If it is prawn, marinate the prawn in salt ,red chilly powder and turmeric powder and then fry it, add this to the potato masala and follow the same recipe.