Fiery Fish Stew

Picture this – there is a man wanted by the law for killing a dozen people in a particular city.  You live in another city, but are well aware of the crimes committed by this person in question.  While on the run, this man is passing through your city and falls ill.  He knocks at your door and asks to stay at your place till he gets well and can return back to his city and continue his crimes.  If you give him shelter, what does that make you?

This morning we woke up to the news that the President of Yemen, Mr.Saleh, was undergoing surgery in Saudi Arabia.  Now this got me thinking – why would Saudi or for that matter any country want to give asylum or shelter to someone who has been responsible for the murder of so many people?  Shelter to asylum seekers in genuine circumstances are denied like that to Ms.al-Obeidy from Libya which is just one of the thousands of examples.  But on the other hand rulers like Saleh or Idi Amin or Ben Ali are welcomed with open arms.  Where is the justice in this?  What have we as a race stooped down to?

My husband tells me not to write about politics on the blog – but from where I see it, this is not politics.  We are collectively as a race of people accepting this type of treatment and accepting injustice.  I am not an activist or participate in partisan politics – just another human being like you trying to make sense of things happening around.

Preparation Time: 35 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons corn oil

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 garlic clove, crushed

2 fresh red chillies, finely chopped

2 bay leaves

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon chilli powder

400 grams chopped tomatoes

2 large potatoes

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 tablespoons fish sauce

½ kilo fish fillet

Method:

1. Heat the oil in a large pan.   
2. When hot, add the cumin seeds.   
3. When they splutter, add the onion, garlic, pepper, garlic, chillies and bay leaves.  Fry for 7 minutes until the onion has browned.   
4. Stir in the salt, ground cumin, ground coriander and chilli powder and cook for another 4 minutes.   
5. Add the tomatoes and potatoes along with the tomato paste and fish sauce.  Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for another 10 minutes.  
6. Add the fish and then cover and simmer for 10 more minutes or until the fish is tender.  Serve hot with bread or rice.