So… we are meeting after a small break.
This break wasn't planned. In fact, I had put together some recipes for Onam, but with the Kerala floods and all, I didnt feel like posting it. Before we get into the recipe, I wanted to thank you for responding to my last post about the flood.
From what I read and hear, life is getting back to normal in Kerala. However, the situation is still not that good for a large number of people. Hope it gets better in the coming days.
Now, about this recipe. I had posted this recipe long time ago. I was first introduced to this recipe by one of the cooks at my parent's place. This fish curry is quite different from what we normally make at home.
This recipe gives you the taste of northern Kerala. It uses ground coconut and tamarind (instead of cocum) for the sauce. The combination of tamarind and coconut gives a distinct flavour to this dish. It goes very well with rice. As I've told many times before, I'm not a rice fan, but this fish curry with rice is one of my fav combos.
I've updated the recipe with step by step pictures and a new picture of the end product. Hope you give it a try and like it too.
Before we go to the recipe… On more small request related to Kerala floods.
My friend Divya (whose recipes I've shared here) has asked me to share the details of a Harvest Festival organized by their Church (St Gregorios Orthodox Church, Raleigh, NC). They are hosting their annual Harvest Festival (Hearts and Hands for Kerala Disaster Relief Fund) to raise money to support this cause. 100% of the profits will be sent as direct aid to those in affected areas.
This harvest festival will be a perfect family entertainer complete with kids game zone, entertainment,dancing, auction and stellar cuisine. You can see more details about the festival here. If you are anywhere near the place or if you've friends and family in that area, please share this or join the harvest festival since it's for a good cause. Thanks!
Here is the recipe…
Ingredients
- 275 - 300 gms Cleaned Fish (Check notes)
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 1/4 cups Grated coconut
- 2 - 3 Green chilli
- 1.5 tsp Chopped ginger
- 1.5 tsp Chilli powder
- A small lemon size Tamarind
- 4 Small / Pearl Onion (sliced)
- 1/2 tsp Mustard seeds
- Salt
- Coconut oil
- Curry leaves
Instructions
- Grind together coconut & turmeric powder with 1/2 cup water for 2-3 mins. Add 1/4 cup water to this and grind for 3-4 mins,till it becomes a smooth paste.
- Make a tamarind paste by adding 1/3 cup water to it. Add green chilli, chilli powder, chopped ginger & salt to tamarind paste & mix well.
- Take a Manchatti (clay pot) or a wide pan. Add coconut paste, tamarind paste and 1 cup water to this. Mix well. Bring it to boil.
- Add cleaned fish pieces to this. Bring to boil and reduce flame to lowest. Cover and cook for 15 - 20mins or till the fish pieces are done and gravy (sauce) becomes thick.
- Heat oil in a pan & splutter mustard seeds. Add sliced small / pearl onion & curry leaves. Stir till the onion becomes brown & pour this over the fish curry. Drizzle some coconut oil. Remove the curry from fire.
Notes
Hi Athmaja,
Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback :) Really happy to hear that you like the recipes here. Please do convey my thanks to your husband too.
Hope you get to try more recipes from here successfully. Happy cooking!
Cheers
Maria
Hi,
Can I use any kind of fish or some specific fish?
You can sue any kind of fish for this recipe.
My mom s not home..so i dcd to make d fish curry…it went out well…n dis s d first time am trying…thaaank u so much….:)
Thanks Athulya for trying recipe from here for your first experiment :) I’m glad it came out well for you…
Cheers
Maria
I found this recipe during one of my random searches on the net. I quickly jotted it in my notebook. The curry was the best i ever had and i was feeling so bad that i forgot the source of the recipe, until after a year i found your website and recognized the recipe. Thank you for this wonderful recipe, I am now a die-hard fan of Kerala Cuisine. Please read my blog too. It is http://www.melsfoodcourt.blogspot.com where i review restaurants in Bangalore.
Hi Melisha,
Thank you so much dear :) great to know that you are a fan of Kerala cuisines.
Checked out your website too, great effort! Best wishes for your blog!
Cheers
Maria
hiii mariaaa.. thanks a loooooot dear..i made it today and it was a super duper hit.. my hubby dear who rarely gives good opinion said this is the best fish curry he ever had… That was HUGE coming from him. my BIG thanks to Shruthi too….
Hi Sumi,
You are welcome dear :) great to know it was very much appreciated by your husband.
Wish you a happy new year!
Cheers
Maria
Hi Sumi,
You are welcome dear :) great to know it was very much appreciated by your husband.
Wish you a happy new year!
Cheers
Maria
hiii mariaaa.. thanks a loooooot dear..i made it today and it was a super duper hit.. my hubby dear who rarely gives good opinion said this is the best fish curry he ever had… That was HUGE coming from him. my BIG thanks to Shruthi too….
ur dishes are so good……love it…
Thank you very much dear Shahana :)
wat is chicken cothy??cn i get the recipe plz..
Hi Jiah,
I’m hearing it for the first time… Sorry I dont have any idea what it is :(
Hi Jiah,
I’m hearing it for the first time… Sorry I dont have any idea what it is :(
Hi Jiah,
I’m hearing it for the first time… Sorry I dont have any idea what it is :(
Hi Jiah,
I’m hearing it for the first time… Sorry I dont have any idea what it is :(
I made this right now–am nt very good at clicking the snaps thoh :) :)…it has turned out awesome..thank u..and am sharing the link wid a couple of friends who cn so try the same :) :)
Hi Jenny,
Thanks a bunch for recommending the site to your friends :) I’m happy that you liked this recipe. I’ve shared this photo on MM FB page. You can see it here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.447010634249.241342.189169034249&type=3
Hi Reena,
I do hope that your chicken stew came out well.
Cheers
Maria
hi maria,
let me try the chicken stew. i am planning appam for dinner. thanx for the recipe
reena
hi maria,
           tried this out …. i added a little fenugreek powder also… tasted great with both rice and rotis…my kids and husband loved it….I’m a doctor but cooking is my favourite hobby… and i love ur recipes                      thanx a lot maria !
Hi Priya,
You are welcome. Its a pleasure to know that the curry was liked by your family.
So now I can contact you for some free consultation :)
Thank you so much for taking time to share your feedback here.
Cheers
Maria
hi maria,
           hope u r fine …u r welcome for free consultations in dermatology…..:-)
          i tried ur carrot cake…. it was yummy…!!!!!
Â
                                 thx….byeeeeeeee
                                                           priya (doha)
Hi Maria — tried this out recently and came out well.I used kudampuli in place of tamarind.
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Maria — tried this out recently and came out well.I used kudampuli in place of tamarind.
Thanks a bunch!
Hi Ida,
You are welcome! I’m glad that you liked this recipe. Thanks for posting the comment here :)
Cheers
Maria
Maria, though a novice I could manage this recipe and it turned out really great. My husband remarked that it reminded him of his grandmother’s
cooking which was a great compliment for me. Its superb with palappam!!
 Hi Sandhya,
Thanks dear :)wow! its indeed a great compliment that your cooking reminded your husband about his grandmom’s cooking. Thanks for the comment too..
Cheers
Maria
Maria you are a legend love your recepie.s I live in Australia and miss kerala food a lot due to the scarcity of kerala restaurants. So we have taken things in our own hands and started cooking kerala dishes and your recepies are a boon indeed.
keep up the good work
Cheers
Sanoj
Hi Sanoj,
Its great to know that you find this space helpful. Thanks for the comment :)
Happy cooking :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi again!
I made this for lunch today to accompany a fish fry and it was delish! I didn’t have any coconut oil though so i used regular vegetable oil, i guess missed out on the ‘authentic’ taste.
Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Kimaya,
Thanks for trying this. Please try it with coconut oil next time, it will enhance the flavor of the curry.
Cheers
Maria
Just made this one out… and its divine…yumm!
Thanks Conred, glad you liked it :)
Cheers
Maria
wow… its a good.. one….i made with avoli.. really..taste good…im a bachelor staying..in uae.. always..try ur.. menus… thanks..alot again and waiting more from u….
Hi Noushad
Thank you :) It’s really good to know that you try recipes from here. Keep trying and keep commenting :)
Cheers
Maria
Hey Maria,
I would be trying this on the weekend. Wish me luck. Hope it all comes right.
Hi Choudhary,
Thanks for visiting.
All the best and hope you will like it.
Happy cooking !
Cheers
Maria
Thanks!
Just wanted to add a few more comments. The fish available here (the UK) is not very salty – I havent tried many varieties though)Coming from Kannur I am used to sea fish the taste of which I would not get even if I add salt and marinate I suppose. Just wondered if there any suggestions on this..
I did try a curry the way my wife makes it but the coconut cream I used made it taste a bit sweet. Any suggestions?
Thanks and regards
Hi Bali,
I dont have much idea about the salty part of it :(
Regarding the sweet taste (though am not very sure) some suggestions:
you can try reducing the amount of coconut cream you add. Try adding coconut milk instead of cream, it has a milder taste.
Hope this helps..
Cheers
Maria
good recipe..enjoyed it very much.
Thanks
Thanks Bali :)
ithe dish is simply great
i being a kannadiga is not familarized with malabar food
but my husband is a malabar muslim and he enjoys this curry very much,thank u maria
Hi Nirmala
Thank you for trying this recipe and letting me know about it.
Happy to hear that your husband enjoyed it :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
  I am trying this recipe right now.
I hope it turns out good.
Will post again, once its done.
Cheers!!,Akshata
Hi Akshata,
I hope your fish curry came out well. Thanks for trying the recipe :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi Maria,
 Last time the curry was awesome :)
My hubby loved it …
I am doing this again today …
Thanks for sharing such lovely recipes …
Cheers,
Akshata
Hi Akshata,
You are welcome dear! Nice to know that your husband also liked it.
Happy cooking :)
Cheers
Maria
Hi Akshata,
I hope your fish curry came out well. Thanks for trying the recipe :)
Cheers
Maria