Tandoori Baked Whole Fish
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 tablespoon peeled and grated ginger
- 1/2 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1/2 cup blended oil (canola and vegetable)
- 1/4 cup diced coriander
- 1-1/4 tablespoons ground cumin
- 1-1/4 tablespoons turmeric
- 1-1/4 tablespoons Garam Masala (recipe follows)
- 1 teaspoon ground mace
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground clove
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 quart plain yogurt
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cinnamon stick
- 6 or 8 black peppercorns
- 2 or 3 whole cloves
- 2 or 3 cardamom pods
- 2 or 3 coriander seeds
- 4 whole fish, approximately 1-1/2 to 2 pounds each before cleaning (remove scales, organs and gills)
- 4 small to medium Idaho potatoes
- 2 large white onions
- 2 large red tomatoes
- 1 large lemon
Directions
- Blend onion, ginger, garlic and oil in an Oster® food processor.
- Add pureed mixture to spices, lemon juice and yogurt in a bowl and mix by hand. Set aside.
- Combine all ingredients in a coffee mill and grind.
- Preheat oven to 425°.
- Peel potatoes and cut into rounds 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick.
- Peel onion and cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick rounds.
- Lightly oil bottom of a large baking dish and distribute potatoes and onions evenly.
- Make cross slices in flesh of fish on both sides.
- Place fish on top of vegetables and place 2 slices of tomato, 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick, on top of fish.
- Slice lemon 1/4-inch thick and place lemon slices on top of tomato slices.
- Cover fish and vegetables with tandoori glaze.
- Place baking dish in a larger pan and pour 2 cups of water around sides of baking dish. This prevents glaze from drying out.
- Bake in oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until fish is done. To test, use a knife to pull aside meat in center of fish, behind head, to see if meat is raw. Another option is to lift belly flap: if red blood is still coming from stomach cavity, cook a little longer until juices run clear.
- Remove each fish to a plate and evenly distribute onion and potato.
- Drizzle any sauce left in baking dish on top of fish.
