The Pizzazzy

The staple food of Manipur is Fish and Rice. And the common belief in this part of India is that eating fish develops the brains. Mom constantly told us this and made us eat fish, not that we didn’t like it and we grew up believing that our academic success had something to do with eating fish.

Eating fish regularly also gives good skin and hair as fishes are high in oil content. And fishes are the healthiest in the non-vegetarian section.

By the way fish is not considered non-veg in Manipur. Even my very orthodox grand parents eat fish but do not touch eggs. For auspicious ceremonies also fishes are prepared. Somtimes fishes are offered in prayers also. This is so unlike the tradition in other parts of the country.

Even though there is rarely any shortage of fishes as usually people have private ponds in the rural parts, fishes are so commonly used that they are made available round the year by different ways of curing. In fact there are many small scale industries associated with curing fishes. Commonly used methods for curing fishes are salting, drying, smoking, grilling, pickling. Then the fishes are stocked away for use in almost every dish. Treating fish and meat in these methods adds a different flavour and also ensures availablility of fishes at all times. In fact all the preparations with vegetables or pulses are also enhanced in flavour by adding fish. Manipuri recipes are unique in nature and very healthy. I’ll dwell into the different Manipuri recipes in some other segment of posts.

For today let me share what I read in a news item. Studies have proved that fishes are high on omega-3 fatty acids and these are essential for brain development in foetuses and newborns. It is proved that eating fishes regularly helps develop the brain in babies. Mostly fishes like Sardines and Salmon. This reminds of the popular line “Mum told me…”

But some fishes like King mackerel, swordfish contain high level of mercury, these fishes are to be avoided by pregrant women and nursing moms as these may cause harm.

In case you are wondering at this fishy post well… after the chicken rice post I needed to jerk myself awake into the world of my favorite diet: Fish and Rice.