Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi | Cabbage with rohu Fish Head | Fish head recipe

Normally, in our childhood, we used to get the fresh and soft Cabbages only in winter. But now-a-days it is available almost throughout the year in cities. But still many interior places of our nation wait for the winter to enjoy fresh cabbages and cauliflowers.

Bengalis are renowned for eating fishes. Normally, in Bengali houses, they purchase whole fish and prepare different fish curries with different body parts of the fish. They don’t waste the fish head too. In fact, it is also as tasty as the fish if you know the right recipes with it. Many popular and delicious dishes are prepared with fish head like macher matha diye kochu shaak, macher matha diye pui shaak, macher muro diye moong dal, Murighonto and many more.

I love fish head recipe and Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi is one of my favourites. Honestly, I had never prepared any recipe for fish head before my marriage. The first recipe that I prepared with fish head is Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi. I called my mom over the phone and got the recipe from her. It turned out very good. My husband loved the preparation. Now whenever we have fish head in the fridge, it is one of the most frequently prepared recipes at our home.

Cabbage with fish head is a very simple and easy recipe. It requires minimal ingredients to get prepared. It takes very less effort to prepare this dish. It is a very delicious side dish and goes very well with steamed Rice. As Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi has its own strong flavour, so it does not go well with any flavoured rice.

Recipe for cabbage plays a vital role in Bengali recipe of fish. According to me, it is one of the most versatile vegetable that I have ever seen in my life. It is equally used in veg as well as non-veg recipes. Ilish Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi, Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi, Bandhakopi diye pona mach, Bandhakopi diye Macher Chorchori are few examples of incredible Bengali non-vegetarian dishes prepared with cabbage. Thousands of incredible dishes are prepared with this layered ball.

Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi recipe with step by step photos and instructions have been provided in the ‘Instructions’ section. If you follow the steps carefully, you will get the perfect flavoured Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi. But before directly jumping into the recipe, let me share few interesting facts about the key ingredient cabbage.

Health benefits of Cabbage

How to cook big fish head for the Bengali recipe fish?

How to make Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi?

For the Fish head curry, first I have cleaned the Rohu fish head (Rui Macher Matha). You can use other big fish head too. Then I have marinated the fish head and kept aside for at least 10 minutes. Deep fry the fish head by flipping them occasionally until they become crispy brown from all the sides.

In the Cabbage with Rohu Fish Head, potato is another important ingredient. For the dish, first I have fried the potato chunks separately with some salt and turmeric powder and then drained it on a plate separately.

After that, I have tempered the oil with some whole spices to make the oil aromatic. I have used cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, bay leaf and dry red chillies for tempering.

First, I have cooked the shredded cabbage till tender. Then I have added fried potatoes into the curry.

I have used cumin powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder to flavour up the dish. Then I have added the fish head into the curry. I have not added any water to cook this dish. Only if your cabbage is too dry, you can add some extra water.

I always add a spoon of clarified butter (Ghee) into the Rui Macher Matha Diye Bandhakopi at the end. It gives better flavour and excellent taste to the dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 Rohu fish head (Rui Macher Matha), cut into pieces
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder

• 1 Cabbage, shredded
• 2 Potatoes, cut into chunks
• ½ tablespoon Ginger Paste
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 Cinnamon stick, 2 inches
• 2 dry red Chillies
• ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
• 1 and ½ teaspoon Cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon Garam Masala powder
• 1 teaspoon Ghee (Clarified Butter)
• 1 teaspoon Sugar (Optional)
• Salt to taste
• Mustard oil for cooking

1. Marinate fish head with Salt, Red chilli powder, Turmeric and keep it aside for at least 10 minutes.
   

2. Wash the shredded Cabbage in a strainer and keep it aside to drain water.
   

3. Add Oil into the pan and wait until the Oil is hot.
   

4. Add the fish head pieces (Step 1) into the pan. Deep fry the fish head in medium high flame for 5-6 minutes until they become crispy brown. Flip the fish head pieces and fry the other side of it in same way. Keep the Rohu fish head aside and break them.
   

   Tip: Fish heads have the tendency to splatter Oil while frying. I would recommend using splatter guard to avoid any accidents.
   

5. In the same pan, add potatoes and fry them in medium high flame for 5-6 minutes. Add some salt and turmeric powder into the pan and give a nice mix. Stir in between. Fry the potatoes until they become crispy golden-brown from outside. Keep the potatoes aside.
   

6. In the same pan, add the whole spices cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, dry red chillies for tempering and let them crackle.
   

7. Add shredded Cabbage (Step 2) into the pan and give a nice mix.
   

8. Cover the pan and cook it in low flame for 5 minutes.
9. Add Salt, Turmeric powder, Red chilli powder and mix it well.
   

10. Cover the pan and cook it in low flame for 2-3 minutes.
11. Add ginger paste and mix it well.
    

12. Cover the pan and cook it in low flame for another 5-6 minutes until the cabbage becomes tender.
13. Add the fried potato chunks (Step 5) into the pan.
    

14. Add cumin powder, coriander powder and give a nice mix.
    

15. Cover the pan and cook it in low flame for a minute.
16. Add garam masala powder, sugar, clarified butter and mix it evenly into the curry.
    

17. Add the broken fish head (Step 4) into the pan and mix it well.
    

18. Cover the pan and cook it in low flame for another 5 minutes. Stir in between once if required.
19. Switch off the flame and put the pan down.
    

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