Catfish Curry - Kerala Style
Thursday, June 14th, 2007Filed Under India - Kerala, Mains, Recipes, Seafood
It’s been a few days since my last post. My parents finally arrived last weekend, so as you can imagine I’ve been busy with the onboarding process. Its been almost five years since their last visit, also we weren’t living in the city last time they were around, so it took a bit of orientation time. Even though we have less space now, it is less boring for them now that they have places to go to when Siv and I are at work. Today they walked down to Pike Place Market and bought some catfish all on their own. It was a big accomplishment for them. 
It is nice for us too, to come home to hot yummy food every night.
Here is my mom’s version of Catfish curry. This is not the typical red Kerala fish curry with Kudampuli. This version is less spicy and has a thicker gravy, but very yummy nonetheless.
Have you ever had to ask your mom to describe a recipe? If you have, you’ll know how hard it is to get it out of moms in a way that can be translated to a format you can publish!
Amma, can you describe the recipe while I type it up?
I took a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and did this and that… Oh btw I forgot, I had to do this one step before adding this to that, and I just used a pinch of that other thing in the middle…
Hmmm… that is very helpful, thanks amma! Now can you describe that a little slower and if you can start from the beginning and describe the step by step process in the exact order that you did it, it would be a little more helpful!!
Okay, so you take a little bit of this and …
So all the measurements here are guesstimates, adjust to suit your tastebuds. 
Ingredients
- 2 lb catfish filets cut into medium pieces
- To Grind
- 3 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp ginger paste
- 1/2 tsp garlic paste
- 2 tbsp sliced shallots
- 1 tbsp tamarind paste
- 2 tbsp grated coconut
- 1/2 tsp thinly sliced ginger
- 3 cloves garlic sliced
- 2 tbsp sliced onions
- a few curry leaves
- For the seasoning
- 1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds
- 1/4 tsp mustard seeds
- a few curry leaves
- 1/4 tsp sliced shallots
- 1 tbsp oil
- salt to taste
Method
Grind the ingredients to a smooth paste.
In a deep pan, combine the ground mixture with the sliced ginger, garlic, onions and curry leaves. Pour enough water to cover the mixture, add salt to taste and bring to a boil.
Add the fish pieces and bring to a boil again. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for a few minutes till the fish pieces are soft.
In a separate pan, heat the oil and add the mustard and fenugreek seeds. When the mustard seeds starts to splutter, add the curry leaves and shallots and fry well. Pour this over the prepared fish curry.
Serve hot with rice. We had it with rose matta rice, parboiled red rice from Kerala. After my parents’ arrival, we have switched to this rice at home, and I have to say I am loving it. It is healthier than white rice, and really Kerala fish curry tastes so much better with this than regular rice.
Comments
39 Responses to “Catfish Curry - Kerala Style”
Leave a Reply
-
Subscribe
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
Similar Posts
-
Categories
- Awards
- Blog Events
- Book Review
- Ingredient Guide
- Random Musings
- Recipes
- By Category
- By Cuisine
- By Ingredient
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Banana
- Beans
- Beef or Veal
- Bell Pepper
- Berries
- Bitter Gourd
- Cassava or Tapioca or Kappa
- Chestnut
- Chicken
- Coconut
- Crab
- Dates
- Diary
- Eggs
- Fruits
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Gooseberry
- Greens
- Jackfruit
- Lamb or Goat
- Lentils and Legumes
- Lychee
- Mango
- Mushroom
- Nuts
- Oranges and Kumquats
- Papaya
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Pomegranate
- Pork
- Potato
- Quail
- Rice
- Rosemary
- Scallops
- Seafood
- Shrimp or Prawn
- Squash
- Star Anise
- Sweet Potato or Yam
- Tofu
- Tomato
- Vegetarian
- Watermelon
- Restaurant Reviews
- Seattle
- Tech
-
Blog Event - Grill It!
-
Sponsors
Subscribe in a reader
Add to Google Reader
Subscribe with Live
Ah….the yummy kerala rice.I always recommend it to frnds but non-kerala folks dont really seem to like the taste
Now that ur mom is around can you post recipe for aapam and kadala curry?
Sig, Auntie’s little bit of this and that was funny to read :)):)). It is so nice that they can do shopping on their own. Less boring for them and lucky you guys!!! yummy dinner.
I love Rosematta rice. There was a time when I hated it and when I visited Kerala white rice was made just for me. Now I crave for this one :)):)). Our kerala curries mix with this rice very well.
Nice presentation. Now post at least one yummy dish daily. :):)
My mom is the same way! I think we were probably having the same conversations today in our respective homes. LOL
The fish looks yummy. Catfish is one of my favorites.
Hi!
Lovely pics!!! and fish curry looks delicious..
Hahahaha……. mums are always like this.
Just do this and do that…. and go on and on . 
Omg yum that looks so good, I love catfish! It’s always very interesting to watch moms or grandmas cook. It’s always a little bit of this and that.
Oh Sig, where do you get your tamarind paste? I’ve had the hardest time trying to find it at 99 Ranch.
Keralafish, siv never used to like this rice, thats the reason I haven’t had it in years… but this time he is also having it and liking it… Guess it is an aquired taste!
Anon, sure I’ll ask her to make it sometime soon
Reena, haha I have the opposite story… I grew up on rosematta and used to love it… couldn’t have any other rice, but after moving here I couldn’t find it, Siv hated it anyway, so I’ve been having white rice and didn’t really care for rosematta anymore. But this time around, I started liking it again!… And post daily, haha look who is talking, whats up with you lazybones? When are you going to post again?
Archana, lol, moms are all the same, eh? :). Have fun with ur mom! It must be so helpful to have her here with the twins!
usha, thanks and welcome to my blog!
Coffee,
yeah moms think this stuff is just natural for everyone
Amy, I get the tamarind paste from the Indian stores. Try Mayuri
Another fish curry to try!! Sig, dunno if I’ve said before…I’ve tried some of your fish recipes and they’ve been a huge hit at home!! Your step by step recipes are a real help for folks like me -I’ve never seen fish or any non veg being made till I got married
Oh, all moms and grandmas add a it of this and that to the food!! :))
LOL sig… its same with my amma too… little bit of this and little bit of that
he he he… oh how i miss her:(
girl, i am so green with envy;) enjoy ur time with ur parents and do post some authentic kerala veg dishes also;) he he…
sig, i know exactly what u are going thru.
my mom is the same.
i am going to try ths definitely. regards to ur mom and get more recipes out of her while u can.
Sig I know how recipes from moms go. The Catfish looks mouthwateringly delicious. Please tell amma that and than you for translating the recipe
Oh so thats what kept you busy. You are right going out and buying something on their own is a big thing and thats what my parents miss the most here, that they cannot shop especialy the daily food stuff on their own.
That was one yummy fish curry your Mom made
Fish curry looks delicious! We had it once,photo looks gorgeous.
Enjoy the relatives visiting.Right time for wandering farmer’s markets now:)
Your parents chose the perfect time to visit. That picture looks gorgeous. The chaar looks so delicious. I want some of that meenchaar and choru.
Hehehe…my mom is also same. I always ask her “aayi, please tell me how much”, now that she knows about the blog, she says, “you can say about a cup” :)).
My parents are coming here this month end. I am just waiting for them and the yummu dishes my mom is gonnu prepare :D. Since they are coming to US for the first time, I am not sure how they will pass their time :(.
Curry looks absolutely delicious. Ohh that red color…I have tried so much to get that color, but never succeeded. Enjoy your parents stay Sig….
Lucky you…must be great to have your folks by your side…the curry looks absolutely delicious, and coming from your amma, must have tasted the same…aren’t mommies great…looking forward to more yummy recipes from yours…
This is a great article.
News from “Gods Own Country” - Kerala
ur parents are here, that’s wonderful and even better that they are mobile! i know what you mean by looking forward to the meals every night. i used to be in such a rush to go home early when my parents were here, such hot tasty food to look forward to
dish looks so tempting!
I am jealous. Your mom is there cooking nice food for you and Sig
Look at the colour of that dish. I am hungry Sig.
As to the moms and recipes - yeah I know what you mean. Imagine how much worse it is for those of us living abroad when it is an overseas call with valuable mintues and dollars trying to understand a recipe (lol)
that looks delicious. yummy dinner! I saw rosematta rice in the indian store this weekend, but they didn’t have it in a small pack.
Hmm Mom waiting with fish curry and rice when you come back from work ?? I am alll J-J-J-ealous
Have fun !!! Curry and rice looks gorgeousss !!
That must be so nice Sig, to have your parents around. All the affection and fantastic goodies dished out by Mom :). i like Kerala rice, bring it on anytime (just be sure to add a generous supply of kalan and papad).
Enjoy dear.
hugs,
musical.
Saw your post last midnight and I had water enough for a reservoir in my mouth, seeing that pic
Mom’s recipes…oh..yeah…i have been there…..but good news is that now coz of me she has started
Hi to ur parents…want more mom’s specials…also all green that you get to eat mom’s food now 
using spoons instead of throwing and pouring things now….so she can explain the recipes better
Shn
Hi Sig,
Mouth watering:)))its so tempting….I’m sure the recipes from our parents are wonderful gift for us…be sure to collect as many recipes from mom and try to share with all of us..
Enjoy your days with parents…convey our thanks too…
Perfect timing! We will make this one in the next day or two. Some weeks we end up eating almost every day (now is one of those weeks!).
Jyo, glad to hear that you like my fish recipes… try this one too, it tastes great!
Sup, my parents are trying to eat healthier and reduce the non-veg intake these days, so sure there will be some veg recipes coming out soon
Shaheen, lol moms are all the same…
Indo, amma is all excited seeing all the comments
Sandeepa, yeah thats the tough part for parents, losing their independence… last time it was really tough for them when they visited, there was nothing nearby that they could walk to… this time its better!
Asha, yeah summer is always the best time to be in Seattle… Pike Place Market is open year round though, we are lucky that way
Gini, lol meenchar and choru was yummy… i havent had the red rice in a long time, so this was really special!
Shilpa, hey thats great your parents are visiting soon… i am sure you will have a ton of fun with them! All parents get bored here though, its just the way it is…away from their friends and family.
Sunita, it is great to have parents around… and the food is just icing on the cake
Richa, yeah mobility is the key! I am so glad they have places nearby to walk to and do stuff
Cynthia, lol yeah those international phone calls to get the recipes turn out so expensive! I am planning to document all my favorites this time, so that I wont have to make those calls anymore
Mandira, lol thats funny coz I could only find the lose rosematta rice here that I had to buy by pounds… I was looking for the big bag!
revathi, isnt that great? the small things we used to take for granted when we were young… mom waiting at home with hot food, now these are precious moments
Musie, you really love mallu food, dont u? Olan, Kalan etc
Shn, thats good you trained ur mom well… I think my mom will learn to be more “technical” in her cooking process before she leaves too…
Usha, thanks
I will try to collect as many recipes as I can before they leave
Shantanu, I know exactly what you mean! We also have those weeks when we eat out every day and then start craving some homemade food… well, for us it won’t happen for three months now
Lovely looking curry…… Nice picture…Love it…YUM!…
Oh, enjoy your parents, Sig!
hey Sig, Is rose matta rice same as the Kerala rice? do we find in the Indian grocery stores? your pic looks beautiful.
Yes, yes, i do love mallu food, courtesy my ever lovable mallu friends :). Now be nice and invite me over ;).
PS: had to say that :)). subtle hints weren’t working
Have a fantastic weekend.
Sukanya, Susan, thanks!
Sharmi, it is the Kerala rice… and we get it in the Indian stores here in seattle.. but we do have a healthy mallu population here too
Musie, lol… consider this an open invitation just for you…
Yaooooooo,kerala fish curry with matta rice..So after our beloved mallu girl,you too eh??
Making me so home sick..
wow sig…lucky you !! meen curry looks sooooooo yummyyy with that rosematta rice. def will try this curry. looking forward to see more of your mom’s recipes
nice blog!
i was searching the net for the perfect fish curry recipe, and here it is! thanks!! my 5 yr-old daughter, who is crazy about fish, couldn’t stop licking her fingers! afterwards,in between meals, she was drinking the gravy plain!we both loved it! ur mom is UNBELIEVABLE!