Bamla Fish/ Lote Fish

Bamla Fish/ Lote Fish

Bamla fish is a saltwater fish or sea fish that has several names in different countries (as it is widely available in Bangladesh, and India and other nearby countries) and regions and has many names like bombay duck, bummalo, bombil, bombili, lote, loitta, etc. We Bengalies may be more familiar with the dried version of this fish known as dried loitta fish or loitta shutki. I can not remember when my undying love for shutki began, but my most favorite type of shutki is definitely loitta. It’s so versatile as a shutki, you can cook it with vegetable, make dopeaja(cooking with lots of onion and spices) with it, make bhorta or fry with it, and each preparation has its own charms, But that’s the dried version of bamla, I remember my first time trying this fishes original version. I was visiting my cousin-brother in Chittagong and my sister-in-law made bamla fish with mustard sauce. I could not believe this soft and slightly slimy fish was what my favorite loitta shutki came from. I was a bit skeptical trying this version of the fish, but eventually I gave in and did try it and I am so glad I did, because that changed my whole perception of this fish. It was so soft and yet flavorful and delicious. It was literally a melt-in-the-mouth kind of fish.

How to identify Fresh Loitta fish:

Bamla Fish/ Lote Fish

Fresh lote or loitta is very delicate and the flesh is highly perishable. A single fish varies in size between 6 to 12 inches. Fresh Bombay Duck should be silvery-white with a slimy glossy skin (no scales). The flesh is pinkish on the inside. The body should not be saggy or swollen. The flesh should not have darkened or broken but intact. Although this fish does have a powerful smell, when fresh it should not stink.

How To Clean Bamla:

You will have to be very cautious while handling Bamla, it has sharp teeth and a wide-open mouth you may bruise your fingers. The skin is very thin and slimy. First, thoroughly wash the fish and then pat it dry. Cut the head and the tail off. Cut the fins with scissors. Clean the gut with your fingers if necessary. Run the knife along the back to cut open the fish. The bone is exposed but removing it at this stage will make it more difficult to handle. There is a single soft bone running along its body and it can be chewed or removed easily. once it is cooked.

Nutrition Value of Dried Loitta fish:

It is widely consumed as a fresh and in the dried form. The main season for the availability of bamla fish is monsoon time (August – September), also found the rest of the year and during that period it is sun dried and preserved, dried Bombay duck is rich in protein.

Nutritional content of dried Bamla or Lote fish per 100g is as below:

• Energy 293 kcal
• Protein 62g
• Fat 4 g
• Carbohydrate 2 g
• Iron 19mg
• Calcium 1389 mg
• Phosphorus 240mg

Why add Bamla in Your Daily Meal Plan:

Protein Rich: Human body need about 56g of protein daily and which can be fully supplemented by consuming 100g of dry Bombay duck, that means 100% of our daily protein requirement is satisfied by 100g Bamla fish. Protein helps build, strengthen, repair body tissue and muscles in our body.
Good for Diet: Very low presence of carbohydrate in Bombay duck makes it the perfect food item in helping maintain weight. It does not support gaining weight.
Heart Health: This fish has very low amout of fat percentage, only about 4g per 100g. Also it has Omega 3 fatty acids which enhances your heart by reducing bad cholesterol from our body that clogs blood arteries and help in reducing blood triglycerides level and also aids blood circulation. Overall it helps in prevention of stroke and heart attack.

Good for Digestion: Fresh Bombay duck has soft and tender flesh with high water content and unlike other fish its bones are soft too. Even the bone can be chewed, eaten and digested. In many parts in the coastal areas, people do eat it as a whole fish without removing even bone.
High Calcium content: Dried Bombay duck are excellent source of calcium, which helps in maintaining blood pressure levels and also gives strength to our bones.
Brain Health: Dried bamla is also high in iron which supports healthy functioning of our brain. In earlier times it was used to cure diseases related to insomnia (lack of sleep). Iron also helps in balancing our body temperature.

Easy Recipes with Lote Fish:

Loitta Machher Jhuri is a popular Bengali dish made with Bombay duck (loitta machh). To prepare it, clean the fish, coat with salt and turmeric, and set aside. Then, thinly slice onions, chop green chilies, dice tomatoes, and make a garlic paste. Heat mustard oil in a pan, temper with dried red chilies and nigella seeds, then add onions and fry until softened. Add garlic paste and fry further, then add tomatoes and salt, cook until softened. Add powdered turmeric, red chili, and Kashmiri red chili, braise until fragrant. Lay the fish on top, cover, and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the central bone, mix everything, and let the fish braise until desired consistency is reached.

Dry Bamla Fish (Lote sutki) Curry is a popular Bengali dish made with dried Bombay duck (bamla or lote fish). After washing the fish pieces and frying them lightly, onions are sautéed with garlic and ginger paste. Turmeric, red chili, coriander powder, and water are added, followed by chopped potatoes, which are cooked until softened. The fried fish is then mixed in and cooked with additional water until done. This spicy dish is often enjoyed with steamed rice.

Lote Macher Bora is a Bengali dish featuring crispy fritters made from Bombay duck (Bombil) fish. The recipe involves marinating fish cubes, preparing a batter with soaked and blended masoor dal, rice flour, spices, and herbs. The fish cubes are thinly coated with the batter and deep-fried until golden and crispy. These fritters are best served hot, accompanied by kasundi (mustard sauce), making them an ideal starter for gatherings.

Don’t let Baam fish’s appearance fool you. This wonderful fish deserves a place on your plate due to its impressive health benefits and delectable taste. So next time you come across this fish, please give it a try. I am sure you will not regret it.