Sri Lankan Fish Curry

#myrecipe
By Bithi Bhargava

May, 29th

666

Servings
4 persons
Cook Time
1 hr
Ingredients
22 - 24

Ingredients

  • Rohu fish 500gm
  • Onion, ground 1
  • Tomatoes, chopped 3
  • Green chillies, slit 2
  • Ginger garlic paste 1 tbsp
  • Curry leaves 10
  • Dry lemon grass rolls 4
  • Black mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
  • Turmeric 1/2 tsp
  • Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp
  • Salt 2 tsp
  • Tamarind pulp 1 tbsp
  • Coconut milk 200ml
  • Oil 2 tbsp + extra for deep frying
  • Coriander seeds 1 tbsp
  • Cumin seeds 1 tsp
  • Fennel seeds 1/2 tbsp
  • Fenugreek seeds 1/2 tsp
  • Cinnamon stick 1 inch
  • Cloves 3
  • Green cardamom 3
  • Curry leaves 10
  • Black peppercorns 1 tsp
  • Dry red chillies 3

Instructions

  • Marinate the darnes of fish with salt and turmeric and rest for 5 mins. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the fish until golden. Set aside.
  • Now, roast the coriander seeds, cumin, fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, cloves, green cardamom, curry leaves, black pepper, dry red chillies and half dry lemon grass until fragrant and blend them into a fine powder once cooled.
  • Heat oil in a wok and add black mustard seeds, lemon grass and curry leaves and let them splutter. Then add the slit green chillies and ground onion. Sauté till the raw smell goes off.
  • Now add the ginger garlic paste and cook for another minute.
  • Add the chopped tomatoes followed by dry spices & freshly ground powder and cook till the masala leaves oil. Add a splash of water to prevent the spices from burning.
  • Add the tamarind pulp and a cup of water. Bring it to a boil.
  • Finally add the coconut milk and mix well. Adjust seasoning, if required. Let the curry simmer for approximately 5 mins before adding the fish.
  • Let it simmer for another 5 mins and remove from flame once the curry leaves oil.
  • Garnish it with a spring of coriander. Serve hot with freshly steamed rice.

Notes/Tips

The recipe traditionally uses skinless white fish which are poached in the gravy. I, however, have used a medium size Rohu fish and have deep fried the darnes before adding it to the gravy.