This post is dedicated to the memory of my father who passed away 39 years back on this day.
While I was 9 then, it’s my memories of him and his adeptness at cooking which made me embrace the kitchen years back and still does.
Lunch today was all about fish,
fish and more fish.
Lau diye machhed mudo. Bottle gourd with katla fish head. Katla kaalia and rice.
You will find my kaalia recipe in my blog, YouTube and IGTV.
Here’s how I make the lau. Self taught. Your grandma might make it differently. I can’t be her. Or match her. The kaatla is from Poonam at Khar market.
Smear the kaatla head in turmeric, chilli and garam masala (unless if hilsa head) powders and salt. Fry in mustard oil and set aside.
Make a phoron (tempering) in the same oil with whole cumin, bay leaf and dried red chilli. Then add grated ginger followed by the gourd in tiny cubes (or shredded cabbage). Add turmeric, chilli, cumin and coriander powder to your taste. We put less chilli. Salt.
Cook till half done and add the fish head back. Let them spend time together till they get well acquainted with each other and decide to get married. Turn off the hob then.
That’s how I told #kayteecooks to make it barring the second last line.
Incidentally my father spent 14 years of his life abroad. UK and the last year in Iran before returning to Calcutta. I remember him as one who would mix with locals, blend in and be at home where he was. At the same time he held his Bengaliness very close to his heart. Much more than I do, but then it struck me that he grew up more steeped in Bengali culture than I did and that I hold on to my Bengaliness my way while being at home where I am.
Dad always wanted a daughter. He now has two daughter in laws and one granddaughter. I know that the eldest would love to eat all the fish he would have cooked for her.
Ps: My mother and brother offered flower, fruits and incense to his framed pictures in their houses. The picture we had framed of my dad had run colour and I am yet to fix it. Then I found the framed photo of him that I carried with him when I first moved out of home. If I had to say a prayer back then, it would be to this pic. I took it out and thought I am a writer, words are what I have to offer. So there you go dad. It’s time to celebrate your life and the life you have given us.
PPS:
Just loved how colourful today’s jhal muri looked and thought that was the best thing to offer to my dad. My mum said he was always conscious of staying trim. Maybe she said that because she felt I wasn’t 🙈😂
Jokes apart, today she told me that she got to spend about ten years with my dad and next year without him.
That’s a sobering number.
P
