Chital Kofta Curry

Name: Chital Kofta Curry
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 5 servings
Cuisine: Indian (Westbengal)
Ingredients: Chital (clown knifefish) or bhetki: 500g fillets, scrape-minced; Goat mince (keema): 100g; Onion: 200g (100g for kofta + 100g for gravy), finely minced; Ginger: 20g, grated; Green chillies: 4; Cumin powder: 1 tsp; Garam masala: 1 tsp; Turmeric: 1 tsp; Red chilli powder: 1 tsp; Coriander powder: 1 tsp; Mustard oil: 5 tbsp; Tomato: 150g, pureed; Salt: 1½ tsp; Egg: 1 (for binding koftas); Scraping chital flesh removes bones automatically — this is the traditional method; Wet hands prevent koftas sticking; Fry koftas gently — they are more delicate than meat koftas

🍗 Non-veg🌾 Gluten-free📊 Hard

Unique Bengali fish koftas made from scraped clown knifefish flesh, stuffed with spiced keema, simmered in rich onion-tomato gravy.

⏱️40 minPrep

🔥35 minCook

🕒75 minTotal

🍽️5Serves

🧺 Ingredients

👩‍🍳 How to make Chital Kofta Curry

Scrape fish flesh with spoon (discard skin).
Mix with keema, minced onion, 10g ginger, 2 chillies, ½ tsp each cumin and garam masala, ½ tsp salt, egg.
Knead until sticky.
With wet hands, form 16 oval koftas (30g each), pressing filling firmly so they don't crack.
Deep-fry or pan-fry koftas in oil, turning gently, until golden-brown all over.
Drain on paper.
In remaining oil, fry sliced onion until golden.
Add remaining ginger, garlic if desired, tomato puree and all remaining spices.
Cook until oil separates, 8–10 min.
Add 200ml hot water; bring to simmer.
Gently slide in koftas.
Simmer uncovered 10 min until gravy coats koftas.
Garnish with garam masala.

📖 Cultural notes

|---|---|---|---|---| | 390 kcal | 34g | 14g | 22g | 3g | Chital Kofta is a labour-intensive prestige dish associated with Bengal's elite cooking tradition — it takes skill to scrape chital flesh correctly. The hybrid fish-meat stuffing reflects the creative complexity of Bhadralok (upper-class Bengali) kitchen culture. This dish appears at shraadh ceremonies and Bijoya Dashami feasts when elaborate cooking demonstrates respect for guests. ---

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