Tel koi is made with fried Koi fish, marinated with a little bit of salt, turmeric powder and mustard oil. Cooked mainly in mustard oil, the gravy consists of kalonji, ginger, and turmeric powder apart from a masala paste made from soaked cumin seeds and dry red chilies. The dish is often served drizzled with raw mustard oil for additional taste and flavor. Read my recipe to learn the easy steps to make tel koi at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Tel koi is a popular dish in India, especially in Bengal.
- Serve it with steamed rice or roti.
- Tel koi tastes earthy and slightly spicy with a pungent undertone of mustard oil.
- Other similar recipes are fish kalia, fish korma, shorshe maach, and doi maach.
The Ingredients:
To marinate the fish:
- 5 pieces Koi fish (250 grams)
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
To make the masala paste:
- 3 tbsp cumin seeds
- 4 pieces dry red chilies
- 100 ml water (warm)
To fry the marinated fish:
- 3 tbsp mustard oil
To cook tel koi:
- ½ tsp kalonji
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 240 ml warm water
I learned to make tel koi from my mother-in-law. She prepared the dish one day for lunch and I watched her complete it and exit the kitchen within a short time, smiling. The taste of the dish amazed me. She explained the recipe to me after I requested it while she enjoyed her meal.
I wanted to prepare the dish for the next time. The dish required only a few common kitchen ingredients which made it easy to remember. The results exceeded my initial expectations. My husband and two sons reacted with amazement and praised my achievement while I admired my mother-in-law for her cooking skills and I expressed gratitude to her for teaching me the recipe.
How to Make Tel Koi? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Cut, wash nicely and marinate 5 pieces of Koi fish (250 grams) with ½ tsp of turmeric powder, ½ tsp of salt and 1 tbsp of mustard oil.
Step 2: Soak 3 tbsp of cumin seeds and 4 pieces of dry red chilies in 100 ml of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Make a fine paste.
Step 3: Fry the marinated fish in 3 tbsp of mustard oil.
Step 4: Fry ½ tsp of kalonji, 1 tbsp of ginger paste, and the masala paste in the same oil. Add ½ tsp of salt and ½ tsp of turmeric powder. Mix 240 ml of warm water.
Step 5: Add fried fish. Cover and cook for 10 minutes on a medium flame.
Step 6: Your tasty and spicy homemade tel koi is ready.
Recipe Card
Tel Koi
Ingredients
To marinate the fish:
- 5 pieces Koi fish 250 grams
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
To make the masala paste:
- 3 tbsp cumin seeds
- 4 pieces dry red chilies
- 100 ml water warm
To fry the marinated fish:
- 3 tbsp mustard oil
To cook tel koi:
- ½ tsp kalonji
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 240 ml warm water
Instructions
- Cut, wash nicely and marinate 5 pieces of Koi fish (250 grams) with ½ tsp of turmeric powder, ½ tsp of salt and 1 tbsp of mustard oil.
- Soak 3 tbsp of cumin seeds and 4 pieces of dry red chilies in 100 ml of water for 10 to 15 minutes. Make a fine paste.
- Fry the marinated fish in 3 tbsp of mustard oil.
- Fry ½ tsp of kalonji, 1 tbsp of ginger paste, and the masala paste in the same oil. Add ½ tsp of salt and ½ tsp of turmeric powder. Mix 240 ml of warm water.
- Add fried fish. Cover and cook for 10 minutes on a medium flame.
- Your tasty and spicy homemade tel koi is ready.
