Traditional Mumbai Fish Thali: Savoring Pathare Prabhu's Rich Seafood Culture

Chef and culinary creator Natasha Gandhi is well-known for bringing up the traditional Indian flavors to real life, and at this time, she's celebrating the very rich and lesser-known legacy of the Pathare Prabhu community through a perfect unforgettable Fish Thali.

With the star dish being the Kurkurti Bharela Paaplet, this thali is a perfect tribute to one of the Mumbai's oldest seafood traditions, where the fresh catch, bold spices, and soulful cooking come together only on one plate.

What's in the Thali?

Kurkurti Bharela Paaplet:

Fresh pomfret marinated well with some turmeric, kokum, and salt, fully stuffed with a much vibrant, spicy green vatan, and coated in some rava and rice flour before being completely pan-fried until it's much golden and crispy. A fiery delight that deeply crackles with flavor!

Mandelya Bhujne:

Slow-cooked anchovies blended well with the caramelized onions, garlic, kokum, red masala, and coconut. The deep, and comforting flavor of this dish captures the rich essence of the coastal home kitchens.

Bombay Chi Bhaji:

A warm, homemade-style vegetable dish that perfectly complements the fish beautifully and rounds off the whole thali with utter softness and balance.

A Taste of History and Sustainability:

The Pathare Prabhus, one of Mumbai's oldest communities, have been highly shaping the city's seafood cuisine long before the high-rises dotted the whole skyline. This thali isn't just a normal food, but it's also a cultural experience.

Natasha deeply highlights how seafood is much more than sustenance, it's also identity. And all-thanks to Licious' small-boat sourcing model, the fish comes very fresh from the sea with almost no middlemen, retaining its natural flavor and rich texture.

Even with the fishing ban on the west coast starting in only June, Licious much responsibly sources from the 28 other Indian coasts, ensuring sustainability without compromising its freshness.

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