Bombil (Bombay Duck) Pickle – Sukha Bomblache Lonche

The house stinks! That’s what my sister says every time mom makes a bombil pickle. And it actually does. The East Indian Lonchey or East Indian Dry Bombil Pickle stinks when you put it together, but it tastes amazing!

What’s a Bombay Duck?

By the way, did you know that the Bombil fish in English is called a Bombay Duck? Strange name isn’t it. But the Bombay Duck has been the English name of the bombil since 1850. Or so says the Oxford Dictionary.

Anyways the bombil is a tropical fish that has a funny mouth. Did I say funny? I meant looks like a cat glowering at you, except the sides of it’s face are missing. 

What are you saying ‘men?  

Isn’t that a good description?

Okay fine. The bombil or bombay duck is a funny looking fish.

Okay?

No, seriously. I could have said more about the bombil being hung out to dry like the tooned uncles. But I guess I better not. Ehm! (For anyone who doesn’t know what tooned means, it’s a local word for intoxicated.)

Anyways, the bombil or Bombay duck fish is hung out to dry at many places along the Mumbai coastline and salted till it turns into sukka bombil or dry Bombay duck. And after that, it’s always stored in airtight containers because it has as much propensity to stink up a house as a beautiful smile does in lighting up a room.

Now there are a lot of recipes that come from the bombil or stink up the house as my siblings say. But let’s focus on the Dry Bombay Duck Pickle or the East Indian Bombil Pickle or the Sukha Bomblache Lonche today.

Dry Bombay Duck Pickle or East Indian Bombil Pickle or Sukha Bomblache Lonche Recipe

Washing and Chopping the Bombay Duck

Did you know that the bombil fish or Bombay Duck grows to about a foot in length?

Chop the sun-dried Bombay duck or bummalo or bombloe or bombil dry fish into approximately two-inch pieces. And it hits you again, the dry fish bombil smell.

After chopping the Bombay Duck, rinse it with water or vinegar and set aside.

Grinding the Masala

Gather your red chillies. Or buy them nowadays. Kashmiri chillies taste better than other varieties in the lonche, while resham patti chillies give that added spiciness.

Grind all the chillies together with jeera (cumin), haldi (turmeric powder), salt, cloves of garlic and a few slices of ginger.  In the olden days they would be ground on the patha but there aren’t many pathas left nowadays. Use toddy vinegar to help you in the grinding, or if you are health conscious or living gluten free, use apple cider vinegar. (If you’re gluten free, make sure your turmeric powder has a GF or gluten free mark on it.)

The masala is quite similar to that of a vindaloo, isn’t it?

Grind the pickle masala ingredients together till smooth. (Sometimes we leave it a little coarse since it tastes much much better.) Certainly, I tell ya.

Adding the paste to the bombils

Add the paste to the Bombay Ducks and leave the pickled fish to marinate for a few hours.

Add oil and cook on a low flame for 15 minutes. Cook it ‘men, cook it stirring occasionally. And soon, or rather in a matter of fifteen minutes, our funny smelling awesome tasting bombil pickle is ready.

Store in airtight containers and they’ll last for a long time. Don’t forget to send some to all your aunties and uncles for tasting.

East Indian bombil lonche can be eaten just as a sukha bombil chutney or pickle or incorporated into other dishes, such as a dry bombil chilli fry. Just chop a few onions and chilly and fry it with the bombil and you’re sorted.

How do you eat your sukha bomblache lonche or sukha bombil pickle?

Recipe pointers and Tips

• If you prefer buy dried bombil that has already been cleaned – fins and head removed and tails cut off.
• The masala paste is quite similar to the Vindaloo masala.
• If you are health-conscious, you can use apple cider vinegar instead of toddy vinegar.

FAQ’s About Sukha Bombil Pickle

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