“This dish is an ode to my mother’s ability to meddle,” says Mowgli restaurateur Nisha Katona.
“When we first discovered McDonald’s in the UK in 1978, we would drive all the way to London for a Filet-O-Fish. In the back of our Ford Anglia, Ma would open her handbag and produce some homemade green chilli pickle and finely sliced red onion and set to work on her hard-won prize. As children, we were always mortified, but it turns out that mothers really do know best.”
Nisha Katona’s Indian fish finger sandwich
Ingredients:
(Serves 4)
Vegetable oil, for frying
125g gram/chickpea flour, plus extra for sprinkling
½tsp salt
1tsp baking powder
½tsp ground turmeric
1/8tsp chilli powder
½tsp ajwain seeds
1tsp white poppy seeds
350g white fish fillets (haddock or cod work well), cut into 12 goujons
8 slices white bread, buttered
For the gherkin and coriander raita:
250g Greek yoghurt
Juice of ¼ lemon
½tsp ground cumin
½ clove garlic, crushed
½tsp salt
2tbsp roughly chopped gherkins
Small handful fresh coriander/cilantro, roughly chopped
Method:
Following manufacturers’ guidelines, add oil to a deep-fat fryer and preheat to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. If you don’t have a deep-fat dryer, simply put four centimetres of vegetable oil in the base of a large pan and set over a medium-high heat.
Sift the flour into a large bowl and add the salt, baking powder, ground turmeric, chilli powder, ajwain seeds and poppy seeds and stir to combine. Make a well in the centre and gradually whisk in around 150 mililitres cold water to make a thick batter.
Check the oil by carefully dropping a small spoonful of batter into it – if the batter bubbles and floats to the surface then it is ready. Sprinkle the fish goujons with a little flour, then dip them into the batter to cover, shaking off any excess. Carefully lower the coated goujons into the oil and fry for three to four minutes, until the batter is puffed and golden and the fish is cooked through. Set aside while you prepare the rest of the elements.
To make the raita, put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined.
Spread each of the bread slices with some of the raita. Lay the goujons over half of the bread slices, then top the sandwiches with the remaining bread. Cut into halves and enjoy!
30 Minute Mowgli by Nisha Katona is published by Nourish Books, priced £25. Photography by Yuki Segiura. Available now.
