Apollo Fish

Somehow I do not like eating out very often but I crave for some dishes served at the restaurant. So I try to replicate them in my kitchen modifying the recipe my way to exactly match my taste buds.

The recipe I am posting today is one such dish. This was the first restaurant dish I fell in love with eight years back..The name itself will make my mouth water..ummmmm..

I made Apollo fish for the weekend and here is the recipe for you guys....Have a great weekend!!

Ingredients

2 Fish Filets (Boned and skinned)(around 9oz or 250 grams)
1 tbsp Red chilli powder
2 tbsp corn starch or corn flour
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1 egg
3/4 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garam masala
couple of pinches of food color(I used orange color)
salt for taste
juice of 1/2 lemon (around 2 tsp)
oil for deep frying

For Sauce

8 to 10 green chillies slit length wise
1 medium onion thinly sliced
4 cloves of garlic
3/4 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tbsp oil
5 or 6 curry leaves.

Garnish

handful coriander leaves

Method

Clean the fish fillets and pat them dry. Cut the cleaned fish into thin strips. Beat the egg and keep aside.
In a bowl add fish strips, salt, lemon juice and gently massage for couple of seconds. Now add in red chilli powder, corn starch, all purpose flour, ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala, food color. Mix well. Add the beaten egg and mix one more time. Let it sit for atleast 30 minutes to marinate.

 Heat oil in a deep pan. While oil is heating up, line a plate with paper towels and keep aside. Drop the fish strips one by one into the oil and fry till they turn crispy on the outside and golden brown in color.

 Drop the fried fish pieces onto the plate lined with paper towels and allow excess oil to drain.

 In another sauce pan heat 1/2 tbsp of oil. Add the curry leaves and let them splutter. Add in chopped garlic, green chillies and chopped onion. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes (You do not have to cook the onions all the way. The onions still got to have the crunch but the rawness need to go away).
Add the soy sauce and any leftover marinade to the pan. Fry for couple of minutes till all the moisture evaporates, the sauce looks dry and everything is well incorporated. Gently add in the fried fish pieces, give it a gentle toss and turn off the heat. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with coriander leaves.

This dish can be served as a appetizer or can be served with steamed rice.

Note

I used Tilapia fillets. Any firm fish will work for this dish.
Soy sauce is just optional and my addition to this dish. If you do not have it on hand sprinkle little salt in place of soy sauce.
Once oil gets hot drop a small piece first, taste it and check and adjust the seasonings.