Since last evening I was craving for a typical Assamese fish preparation called Narasigha Masor Jool / Fish curry with Curry leaves. We all know what health benefits curry leaves carry within them. Back home, this fish curry used to be a special one; not very regularly cooked like the other tangy preparation or Masor tenga. But atleast once in a month this was made specially if anyone was unwell and was suffering from loss of appetite. We in Assam eat river fish. So this is also made with river fishes.
Here it goes :
Ingredients
A bunch of tender curry leaves / Narasingha paat ( in Assamese)
Few fish pieces ( I cooked Katla / 3 pieces)
One boiled Potato ( optional)
Turmeric ( To marinate and to put into the curry)
Salt ( To marinate and to put into the curry)
Half tea spoon of mustard seeds
One teaspoon of black pepper powder.
Mustard oil
Method
Wash the fish pieces and add turmeric and salt and keep aside for 10 minutes. Wash the curry leaves and grind them. I remember while growing up there were a pair of mortar and pestle at home and curry leaves were ground using these. But now it's the job of a grinder.
Half fry the fish pieces in mustard oil and keep aside. Add one table spoon of mustard oil into a kadahi / vessel. When the oil gets hot, splutter some mustard seeds. Add little turmeric and salt as per taste. Pour the ground curry leaves paste. Let it cook for 5 minutes. Coarsely mash the boiled potato and add into the curry leaves at this stage. As everything gets mixed well, add 2 cups of hot water. Bring this curry to boil. Add the fish pieces now and sprinkle a teaspoon of black pepper powder. Let the fish curry boil for 6-7 minutes.
Serve hot with steamed rice.
While the curry was boiling, the aroma of the curry leaves filled the kitchen and transporting me back to my childhood. This was the aroma of afternoons at home on school holidays. Why did I grow up!
Dear Better Half,
You must be wondering why am I writing a letter! I mean we are no longer in a long distance relationship. We Are Married. We don't have to wait till you read my mail and reply and vice versa. We don't have to plan the timings of "getting online" to talk; rather chat. Ahh those were the days. I sure miss them at times. It is also not that we don't talk at all now. We do; we talk about everything under the sky. I still tell you whatever stupid things I want to tell you and you still listen. I continue being the talkative one and you the listener.
But now that you are away for few days on work, I have realised that even though I talk and talk, I have never said so many things. And that's why this letter. I thought I will tell whatever I missed telling you; to the whole world. I mean why hide, there is nothing secret about them.
I realised I have never thanked you. Ok don't get ideas; I am not thanking you for making me a part of your life or blah blah. Please. I want to thank you for what you are; for being the man and always ready to #Sharetheload .
It so happens that otherwise vocal me goes into the silent mode if the topic of maids and their tantrums crop up between friends or colleagues. I don't have anything to say. For past 3 years our household is without a maid. Now that's something in our so hectic lives in the city that never sleeps. Do we miss that..nah no. I thank you for always there to #Sharetheload .
Our friends love our house parties. For this I have to thank you again. You being the better cook, always take lead in the kitchen and cook up a storm while I manage only simple stuffs. But yeah I don't mind cleaning after happy guests leave. You don't mind that I don't get the time to dust and sweep everyday but only on weekends or holidays. A little dust over the furniture or a little dirt on the floor is ok as long as the minds of the people inside the house remain clean. Thank you for making me realise that.
I have heard stories of women washing piles of dirty clothes every day. I don't relate to those stories either ; because you never let me wash your heavy jeans or jackets. You wash them yourself and at times if you find anything of mine lying to be washed; you wash that too! Yeah but I have to tell you; I don't like the way you put the clothes to dry. You put one over the other on the clothes wire. That's why I always insist on putting the wet clothes on the clothes wire myself and even after you do that; I go and check. I know you know that I do that.
I don't know what others may think of you about helping me in all the household chores; but I know and you also firmly believe that this never make a man any lesser. Gone are the days when it was believed that kitchen is only a woman's domain or cleaning dusting sweeping washing are only a woman's duty. I strongly believe that a real man is the one who does not hesitate to show the world that he cares and shares too. Thank you for being that man for me.
Much Love,
Moi.
“I am writing for the #ShareTheLoad activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.”
