HADDOCK CHUTNEY
This Indian Recipe Serves 2-4
Haddock Chutney is a meal that I grew up eating in South Africa. My grandmother was fond of preparing this meal for us & she would always shred the fish which made it easier to quickly whip up sandwiches as well. This meal is so easy to prepare & if you’re a fish lover, this Haddock Chutney will cheer you up.
This fish in particular (Haddock) does not have much bones but I prefer using the fillets which are deboned. They have a flaky texture & a delicate flavour.
Haddock Chutney Ingredients:
- 450 grams haddock fillets
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder or masala
- salt to taste
- few sprigs thyme
- 1 teaspoon ginger & garlic paste
- 4-5 tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 3 green chilies
- fresh coriander (dhania) for garnishing
Method:
- For this recipe I am using the frozen boxed haddock fillets.
- This is what they look like straight out the box & they can be cooked from frozen.
- Alternatively, haddock is sold in whole form so you may get that & simply cut into portions.
- Next, pour the vegetable oil into a pot & allow to heat on medium. Once the oil is hot, add in the haddock.
- Allow the fish to fry for 6 minutes on each side.
- Once fried, remove it from the oil. At this point, you may leave the fish as is in pieces or you may take it further & shred them. I prefer it when the haddock is shredded as my late grandmother used to do so.
- Use two forks to shred the fish. Don’t worry if the fish isn’t completely cooked as it will cook in the chutney.
- Next, peel & sliver the onion.
- Rinse & slit green chilies.
- Grate or blend the tomatoes. If choosing to grate them – rinse tomatoes, cut off the ends of each tomato & then slice each one into halves. Place the flat & fleshy side of the tomato onto the grater, & grate the flesh of the tomatoes into a bowl. Discard of the tomato skins. If choosing the blending option – rinse tomatoes, cut off the ends of each tomato & then slice each one into quarters. Place the tomatoes with the skin into a blender & pulse for a few seconds until the tomatoes are finer but not too runny, as the image below.
- To the same pot that the fish had been frying in, turn up the heat to medium-high. Add in the onions, green chilies & thyme.
- Mix well.
- Sauté until the onions are translucent.
- Once the onions are translucent, add red chili flakes, chili powder or masala & ginger & garlic paste.
- Mix well & add in the grated or blended tomatoes.
- Give everything a stir.
- Cover & simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the oil surfaces & the tomatoes are thoroughly cooked.
- Once the tomatoes have cooked, add in salt to taste & sugar.
- Give it a stir.
- Next, add in the haddock.
- Gently mix the haddock into the tomato chutney.
- Cover & allow the fish to completely cook in the chutney for 5 minutes.
- Plate & garnish freshly chopped coriander (dhania).
- Serve this Haddock Chutney with rice, bread or roti.