Hello folks it has been a while. I have come back to Peshawar, Pakistan where I am at now with my family. So this is the post from lovely Peshawar, Pakistan. One of my brother in laws took me to a place where they sell fresh fish and also cook it.
The owner is one of his friends. This guy knows nearly everyone here in Peshawar. 😀 I seen that catfish and I said that’s it. After we got home one of my nephews went to the market near by to bring the stuff that I need.
Then I had to lock the kitchen door to keep my younger nephew out while I was cooking. Take note: the kitchen is a dangerous place and small kids need to keep out.
First I washed 1 kilo or 1 lb of catfish and set it aside. I next put in mortar and pestle 1 pinch each of coriander seeds, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and crushed in to a coarse powder. I added 2 cloves of garlic and crushed them as well and used this to put on to the fish.
I added 1 pinch of red chili powder or 1 whole round dried red chili with 1 pinch each of turmeric and pink salt. This too is also rubbed in to the fish.
I added the juice of 1 narange. this is a fruit that is sour like a lime or lemon but looks like an orange. It is orange or green color and only available in peshawar.
I don’t know the translation in English, sorry lol.
Everywhere else you can add either lemon or lime juice. In a skillet add either corn or canola oil. Wait until it gets hot. Use 1/4 of a cup. Add the seasoned pieces of catfish in batches of 3.
Repeat until there is no more.
While this is going, in a large pot bring 1 gallon or 4 liters of water on high heat add 1 tsp each of cooking oil and pink salt to boiling water.
Add the bag of pasta and cook until it is soft. It should be for at least 20 minutes.
Drain and put back in the pot and set aside.
Now for the sauce I added in a bowl 3 tbs of maida which in USA is all purpose unbleached flour or I would use cornstarch.
I added more narange juice to this. Again use either lemon or lime juice in other areas.
1 added 2 cups of water a little at a time slowly and mixed as I was going to avoid lumps.
I added this to the oil the fish was cooked in because the seasoning is there. I turned it down to low heat ans kept stirring. It would thicken up like crazy and quickly. Add 1 more cup of water and cook until it is slightly thick.
Add the cooked catfish to the sauce stir and turn off the heat. Add this to the macaroni and fold it in to the sauce. Garnish with a handful of cilantro and serve.
By the way, one of my sister in laws was giving me a hand with the pot of macaroni. All I want to say is Dere Merbani Bhabi.
In pashto it means thank you very much and bhabi means brother’s wife.
I hope you will enjoy this dish. From Peshawar, Pakistan asalamualaykum.
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