Sira Bhaja
A crisp and lightly spiced Bengali-style fish fry made with sira fish, turmeric, chili, and a simple pan-fried finish. It comes out golden outside, tender inside, and tastes best with hot rice and lemon.
For 4 servings
- prep
Clean and dry the fish pieces.
Rinse the sira fish well and pat each piece dry with a kitchen towel so the spices stick properly and the fish fries evenly.
- mix · ~3 min
Season the fish.
1.Place the fish in a shallow bowl.2.Add turmeric powder, red chili powder, salt, and lemon juice.3.Rub the seasoning gently over both sides of each piece.4.Sprinkle rice flour and coat the fish lightly. - rest · ~10 min
Let the fish rest for 10 minutes.
TIPA short rest helps the seasoning cling better and keeps the fish from sticking in the pan. - fry · ~8 min
Shallow-fry the fish.
1.Heat mustard oil in a frying pan over medium heat until it is hot.2.Slide in the fish pieces carefully without crowding the pan.3.Cook the first side until golden and crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes.4.Turn gently and fry the other side for 3 to 4 minutes until cooked through.TIPKeep the heat medium so the coating turns crisp without burning before the fish cooks inside. - serve
Serve the sira bhaja hot.
Transfer the fish to a plate and serve right away while the edges are still crisp.
What to keep in mind.
7 tips from the recipe — small details that make a real difference to the final dish.
- 1Pat the sira fish very dry before seasoning, or the rice flour coating will turn patchy and spit in the oil.
- 2After adding lemon juice, rest the fish only briefly; a long soak can make delicate fish soften and break while turning.
- 3Heat the mustard oil until it just starts to smoke lightly, then reduce to medium before adding fish for the best Bengali-style flavour.
- 4Do not move the fish too early; once the underside is properly crusted, it will release from the pan more easily.
- 5Use a thin spatula and flip each piece gently, since sira fish is tender and can split if handled roughly.
- 6Serve immediately after frying; this light rice flour crust loses its crispness faster than a thicker batter coating.
- 7If making in batches, keep fried pieces on a rack instead of a plate so steam does not soften the crust.
Adapt it for your goals.
Low-oil
Use a well-seasoned flat pan with less mustard oil and fry on slightly lower heat; good if you want a lighter everyday fish fry.
extra spicyExtra-spicy
Increase the red chili powder or add a pinch of crushed green chili for a hotter, sharper bhaja that pairs well with plain rice.
gluten freeGluten-free
This dish is already naturally gluten-free when made as written with rice flour, making it a good crisp fish option without wheat.
air fryerAir-fryer
Brush the coated fish with mustard oil and air-fry until golden; useful when you want less splatter and easier cleanup.
Why this is on our healthy list.
Good Source of Protein
Sira fish provides protein that makes this simple fry more filling than a snack-style coating-heavy fish dish.
Light Coating
The thin rice flour crust gives crispness without a heavy batter, so the fish remains the main component of the dish.
Spice-Based Seasoning
Turmeric, chili, lemon, and salt add strong flavour without relying on rich gravies or creamy ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
The fish may be too wet, the oil not hot enough, or you may be flipping too soon. Dry the fish well, heat the mustard oil properly, and wait for a crust to form.
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