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A small step for me and a giant step for the mankind (family at home :P)!!" Does that ring a bell ? Did that take you out of space ,landed you in moon ? ...Well,it did for me ! When my hubby said one day ,"
Today I'll take you out for an Apollo mission."
I was like ...Oh how romantic!!!..Usually Bollywood heroes would brag to bring down stars and moons for their beloved (remember that Hindi movie song-
chaand taarein tod laoon.....),here I've a romantic better 1/2 who wants me to take directly to moon...Needless to say,I turned pink without any blush
...(I know we are crazy couple!!)
But then my curious mind started working
...thought that sounds too good to be true...without even asking him anything to clarify, he blurted out,probably after seeing my expression like a statue...."
I meant Apollo fish...Let's eat Apollo fish today." ;)
Since after coming to USA (during initial days),I was still learning all the English names of fish ,when I already was struggling with the Malayalam names of the fish ,I thought
Apollo was nothing but the name of a fish !
On the way to the restaurant,my hubby couldn't stop himself raving about how spicy and one of a kind dish it was . My idle brain started working real hard
and thought no wonder why this is called Apollo,it sounds so out of the world....
Since I was silent, my hubby guessed sommmething was wrong with me...he knew how sharp my brain was ..He said,"My dear,
Apollo fish is not from moon or related but in fact a famous dish from Hyderabad ",though he had no clue why it was called "
Apollo" fish...."It was an exclusive seafood item prepared in Hyderabad,favorite of all spicy food lovers and famous in bars especially,"He said.....That literally brought tsunami in my mouth (I love spicy foods) :D...
When the
Apollo fish was served,it already looked red and fiery ! ....The moment I bit into one piece ,I was totally out of this space not in moon may be in mars .
.Man,so spicy,so flavorful ,so red what a kick !! Whatever I ate after that became tasteless automatically...it became one of my favorite seafood dish,which I wanted to recreate at home ASAP....I checked every video in youtube and Vahchef's too,,consulted my Andhra friends and took the best of all that would be apt to our spicy taste buds and came out with this very version which was pretty much close to the one we ate at Paradise restaurant.
So,
Apollo fish fry is an Andhra special /Hyderbadi seafood appetizer ,where small fish chunks are dipped in a spicy marination ,deep fried and covered with spicy seasoning.
Here is how I made restaurant style Apollo fish at home...
Apollo Fish Fry recipe
Ingredients
Salmon fillets boneless ,cut into bite size - 10-12 nos.
Green chili slit -6 nos.
Oil for deep frying
For marination:
Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Red chilli powder - 2 teaspoons
Coriander powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Pepper powder - 1 teaspoon
Fennel powder - 1/4 teaspoon
Garam Masala - 1/4
Ginger-garlic paste - 1 teaspoon
All purpose flour/Maida - 2 tablespoon
Corn flour - 1 tablespoon
Yogurt/Curd - 1-2 tablespoons(optional)
Lemon juice -1 tablespoon
Egg ,beaten - 1 no.
Salt to taste
For seasoning:
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Red chilli paste/sauce/Siracha hot chilli sauce - 1/2 cup
Slit green chilly - 6-7 nos
Curry leaves a few
- Clean the salmon fillet under water and cut them into bite size pieces.
- In a bowl,add everything under "Marination" above and mix well.
- Now add a few green chilly and the salmon pieces one by one into the marination and coat every piece well .Keep it aside in the refrigerator for 15 minutes approx so that the flavor soaks into the fish.
- Heat oil in a pan and put a drop of batter into it ,when the drop surfaces on the top quickly that means oil is ready for deep frying.At this point,reduce the flame to medium-low.Fry two three marinated fish pieces without overcrowding .
- Meanwhile heat oil in a pan ,season it with curry leaves and slit green chilly.
- Add the red chilly paste/red sauce.
- Now add the fried fish pieces to it and toss it with the seasoning.
- Serve hot.
Note:
- Use any thick fish that won't break while frying.Taste may vary according to the fish used.
- The pieces should be approx 1-2 inch thick.Square shaped or strips .
- Adjust the red chilly powder,chili paste,green chillies as per your preferred spice level.
- If you want more kick you can also add chopped ginger-garlic while seasoning.You can also add hot sauce later.
Doesn't that look lip-smacking ? Though the name of the fish and its origin is still a mystery and "fishy" ,the taste undoubtedly is out of the world and may land one in moon or mars....What do you think? Wink wink.....
Eat,Love,Live deliciously,
