How to fry Mudskippers – निवटी फ्राय

Fried mudskippers or nivtya are a tasty fish that can be served with dal, rice, and salad for a perfect meal!

---

Mudskippers or mudfish as they are known in English are called Nevti (निवटी) in Marathi, or newties as we East Indians call them. This amphibious fish can live in both water and on land and are found in mudflats or coastal wetlands or marshlands like Gorai creek, Marve creek, and even Sewri mangroves in and around Bombay, India.

These mudfish are available in plenty but only during a certain season. You usually get them around March or April, so do buy some when you can, and remember, they are sold alive, so be prepared for the wriggling and jumping when you get back home and plan to cook them.

These mudfish are quite delicious when fried. So, why don’t you try our Nivti fish fry recipe (निवट्या फ्राय) and let us know how it turned out?

What Ingredients Do You Need To Fry Nevties?

All you need to fry mudskippers is salt, turmeric or haldi, and some chili powder, almost the same ingredients you use to fry pakat. You’ll also need oil for frying and you can add garlic as well.

How To fry Mudfish?

When you buy mudfish from your local bazaar or fish market, the mudskippers are usually alive.

Once you get them home, place them in a vessel that can be covered as they tend to jump out. Add salt to the vessel and cover it, they will then die.

I have a video of my dad cleaning them, that I’ll put up sometime. You can see them jumping around trying to escape.

Below you can see two mudfish that jumped out and tried to escape.

Once the salt has made them stop moving, you can wash them in water and also scrub them a little to remove any excess mud. Pass them through water at least 2 to 3 times.

Then add more salt for taste and also add turmeric and chili powder. Mix well and allow the fish to marinate for a little while.

Heat oil in a frying pan and add the nivties or nevties to the pan. Sometimes we add garlic slices as this helps to absorb any extra oil and it also adds to the taste.

Fry on one side for about 7 minutes and then turn them and fry on the other side as well for the same time on a medium flame.

And finally, your fried mudskippers are ready to be eaten! Don’t they look delicious? Serve with fresh mint and lime and you are good to go.

It’s a perfect meal when served with some rice, dal, and a refreshing salad. Of course, sometimes we serve it with pav or chapatis too!

Cooking Tips & Tricks

• Mudskippers can be eaten whole, even the heads. They’re delicious!
• Use salt to wash them.
• Mudskippers are best eaten fried or grilled.
• Top with fresh mint and serve with lime.

FAQ’s About Mudskippers

What are Mudskippers?

Mudskippers are amphibious fish found in wetlands and mudflats that live in water and on land. They are called nivtya or nevtya, or Nivti (निवटी) in Marathi. Of course, East Indians call them nevties or newties.

Do Mudskippers taste good?

Yes, although they look a bit weird, mudfish taste delicious. They can be grilled or fried and are eaten whole, even the heads.

How Long can mudfish be stored?

The raw fish can be stored in a freezer for 1 to 2 months. If you wish, you can coat them in salt before freezing. Cooked mudfish can be stored in a refrigerator in an air-tight container for 2-3 days and in a freezer for a month.

Other Recipes You Might Like

• How To Fry Kingfish Indian-Style?
• Mom’s Easy Masala Potato Fry
• Easy Prawn Chilli Fry Recipe
• Bangda Chilli Fry – East-Indian Mackerel Stew
• Tasty Fried Baiki – Indian Basa Fry Recipe