• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 4 cardamom seeds
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 pieces cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root, minced (or 1/2 tsp ground, dried)
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
• 2 lbs fresh hake, diced (or any firm, white-fleshed fish)
• salt
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 6 small potatoes, peeled
• 1 cup long grain rice (uncooked)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 cup red lentil (uncooked)
• 4 hard-boiled eggs (optional)

Heat the oil in a pan and sauté the onion, cardamom seeds, cloves, cinnamon, ginger and garlic until the onion is tender and all the flavours have blended.

Add the fennel seeds, cumin, coriander, garam masala and a little water. Simmer until an aromatic paste has formed.

Season the fish with salt with the 1 tsp garam masala and add to the paste, along with the potatoes.

Fry until the mixture is a nice yellow colour.

Cover and braise until cooked.

The potatoes Should be tender but still whole (about 15-20 minutes).

Add extra water if necessary.

Put the lentils in plenty of boiling, salted water and cook 5 minutes.

Add rice and turmeric to water and continue boiling until done (about more 20 minutes).

Drain and set aside.

Arrange layers of the fish mixture and rice in a saucepan.

Add a little water, cover, and steam for about half an hour.

Garnish with quartered hard-boiled eggs.

by Pak101.com (few years ago!) / 1776 views