Tilapia Macher Tok refers to a sour fish curry known for its unique taste and blend of flavors.
Literally, “Macher Tok” in Bengali translates to “Sour Fish” in English. This popular Bengali fish dish is made with fresh tilapia fish.
The succulent fish and the tanginess combine perfectly to offer a lingering taste with a hint of spiciness.
Here is the easy recipe to follow to make this delightful dish at home using simple ingredients like tamarind pulp, mustard oil, and a variety of spices.
Key Takeaways:
- Tilapia Macher Tok is a popular Bengali fish dish.
- The dish is cooked with marinated tilapia fish, mustard oil, tamarind pulp, and a few spices.
- The dish is easy to make at home.
- the dish tastes sour and sweet.
- A few common alternatives to Tilapia Macher Tok can be achieved by replacing tilapia fish with Rui, Pabda, Ilish, Tangra, and Pona Mach.
The Ingredients
- Tilapia fish: 5 pieces (cut & cleaned)
- Turmeric powder: 1 tbsp
- Red chili powder: 1 tbsp
- Sugar: ½ tbsp
- Tamarind pulp: 1 tbsp
- Coriander leaves: 1 tbsp
- Curry leaves: 1 tbsp
- Black mustard seeds: ½ tbsp
- Hing or asafetida: 1 pinch
- Dried red chili: 2 pieces
- Mustard oil: 2 tbsp
- Salt to taste
How to Cook Tilapia Macher Tok (Step by Step Images)?
1. Marinate the Tilapia fish with ½ tbsp of salt, 1 tbsp of turmeric powder, and 1 tbsp of red chili powder. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Add 2 tbsp of mustard oil to the wok and let it heat up. Gently add the fish into the hot oil and let them fry.
(Pro tip: Be very careful while adding the fish into the oil.)
3. Flip them over and fry both sides. Take them out on a plate when they are done.
4. Add dried red chilis, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and asafetida. Sauté everything. When the mustard seeds start crackling, add the tamarind pulp. Stir everything. Finally add 1 cup water.
5. Add less than ½ tbsp of salt to the gravy. Let it come to a boil. When the gravy starts boiling, add the fried Tilapia fish.
6. Add ½ tbsp of sugar when the gravy is almost done. Turn of the gas. Add coriander leaves from above.
(Pro tip: Coriander leaves is optional. Add sugar as per your taste)
7. Tilapia Macher Tok is ready. Trans it to a bowl. Serve it with steamed rice for the perfect dining experience.
Recipe Card:
Tilapia Macher Tok
Ingredients
- 5 pieces Tilapia fish (cut & cleaned)
- 1 tbsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tbsp Red chili powder
- ½ sugar Sugar
- 1 tbsp Tamarind pulp
- 1 tbsp Coriander leaves
- 1 tbsp Curry leaves
- ½ tbsp Black mustard seed
- 1 pinch Asafetida
- 2 pieces Dried red chili
- 2 tbsp Mustard oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Marinate the Tilapia fish with ½ tbsp of salt, 1 tbsp of turmeric powder, and 1 tbsp of red chili powder. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add 2 tbsp of mustard oil to the wok and let it heat up. Gently add the fish into the hot oil and let them fry.(Pro tip: Be very careful while adding the fish into the oil.)
- Flip them over and fry both sides. Take them out on a plate when they are done.
- Add dried red chilis, mustard seeds, curry leaves, and asafetida. Sauté everything. When the mustard seeds start crackling, add the tamarind pulp. Stir everything. Finally add 1 cup water.
- Add less than ½ tbsp of salt to the gravy. Let it come to a boil. When the gravy starts boiling, add the fried Tilapia fish.
- Add ½ tbsp of sugar when the gravy is almost done. Turn of the gas. Add coriander leaves from above.(Pro tip: Coriander leaves is optional. Add sugar as per your taste)
- Tilapia Macher Tok is ready. Trans it to a bowl. Serve it with steamed rice for the perfect dining experience.
