No-fry Fried fish or Roasted Salmon

Who doesnt love a fried fish? It is the best side dish to go with Fish curries. I havent come across a better dish to go along with Fish curry and Rice. Being a health freak that I am, I used to wish, if only there was a way not to fry fish and still get the great taste! Well, there was.... When I started using the oven, I started baking marinated Chicken drumsticks. Since it was great, I tried the same technique with Fish too. After a few trials, I found a neat way to make Fish crisp and tasty, just like the Fried fish, infact even beter than the fried ones. And the whopping amount of oil you need to prepare this dish is .... hold you breath ... 1 tbsp!

It was only very recently that I learnt that the process wasnt Baking, but Roasting! It is called roasting when it comes to cooking vegetables and meat in the oven. And Baking for all those made of flour. (Courtesy: The book 'The Clueless Baker').

I'm going to write only the process here. It turns out great with any recipe, any masala/spice blends you use. Salmon is great when roasted this way. I've tried Tilapia and Cat fish fillets too, with great results. If it is an oily fish like Salmon, one tbsp of oil for greasing the tray, will do. You'll be surprised by the amount of oil that the fish emits while baking. For other types, add another tbsp of oil along with the marinade and proceed as usual.

1. Marinade: I cut the fish fillets into small pieces, like about 2 inch squares, for handling ease. But you can cut them into any shape you want. Then, I add about 2 tbsp of Shaan Tandoori Chicken Tikka BBQ powder (any Indian stores in US, now available in India too). This has salt in it, so you can omit salt... or add in a tiny bit if you like. Add a tbsp of lemon juice or white vinegar. Mix carefully without breaking the fish fillets. Cover with a saran wrap and keep it aside for about an hour or overnight in the fridge.

2. Preparation: Preheat the oven; Line the grilling tray or baking tray with Aluminium foil and grease it with a tbsp of olive oil (Any vegetable oil will do). Carefully place the fish pieces on the tray and bake at 375 F for 15 mins, turn over, bake for another 15 more mins.. Now turn ON the broil mode of the oven for about 5 mins. Broiling gives the crispiness. You may want to increase/decrease the broiling time depending on your oven.

Serve hot with Fish curry and Rice.

Variations: You can add the masala marinade of your choice - I've tried chilli powder, salt, pepper powder, garlic salt, lemon juice, garlic/shallot paste or a mixture of a few of these items...and it has turned out great, every single time. Though I dont prefer using store bought masala powders for the amount of preservatives/MSG/what not they add, I still store some of them for those lazy times. This Shaan powder is for those lazy times, but it usually turns up very nice!

If you try this, do let me know how it turns out.