Yet another Kerala Fish Curry

Friday, July 6th, 2007

Filed Under India - Kerala, Mains, Recipes, Seafood 

We are back from our marathon sight seeing trip. Now I really need a vacation!  It was scorching hot in San Diego and Disneyland, but that felt like North Pole after we got to Las Vegas - 115 degrees! Wow, it was unbearable, even for my parents. Who knew that coming from India, heat is ever going to be a problem!! It really felt like a furnace, we had to get up at 3:00 am to drive to Grand Canyon. In Vegas, we spent the whole time inside casinos, not that I am complaining really :). Anyway the first breath of cool air when we got out of the flight in Seattle was like a piece of paradise. I am never ever cribbing about the Seattle weather again!

Thanks for all your lovely comments and the clever guesses for my last post. Two anonymous readers got it right. It was Beef Jerky and the recipe is from My Treasure My Pleasure. Thanks Annita for the delicious tip! So if you are the anonymous reader who got it right, come forth and claim your prize! Well, there really is no prize other than a pat on the back… :)

With that, I am getting into the recipe of the day. Yes, it is another fish curry recipe, courtesy of my mom. What can I say, we mallus eat a lot of fish. This is the more traditional red fish curry from Kerala, it is called mulaku charu which translates to chilli gravy :). This is one spicy hot curry, and the regular version my mom makes really burns your tongue. She reduced the spice level a notch or two to adjust for our weakened taste buds.  

 

Ingredients

Method

Cut the fish filets to pieces of desired size.

Soak the fish tamarind in a cup of water and keep aside.

Heat oil in a deep pan, and fry the onions till translucent. Add ginger and garlic and saute till soft.

Mix the red chilli powder and turmeric powder with a few drops of water to make a paste. Add the spice paste to the pan and fry on low heat till the oil separates.

Add salt and the soaked fish tamarind pieces along with the water + one more cup of water and bring to a boil.

Add fish pieces and cook on medium heat till the fish is cooked. Increase the heat and reduce the gravy if needed.

Heat oil in a small frying pan and add the fenugreek seeds and fry till brown. Now add the mustard seeds and when the mustard seeds start to splutter, add the shallots and curry leaves and fry till brown. Pour this over the prepared fish curry.

Serve with rice.

This curry tastes best the next day.


Comments

23 Responses to “Yet another Kerala Fish Curry”

  1. Shantanu on July 6th, 2007 6:43 am

    You know what? The weather in (parts of) India is very nice right now! Actually, given how hot cities in the US now-a-days get (global warming?), I actually dread the heat when travelling TO the US (Houston, etc.) during summer months. Good to have you back in the blogworld again!

  2. indosungod on July 6th, 2007 11:30 am

    Sig, I am craving Fish Curry and there you have it, looks delicious.
    I know the desert heat is not to be taken lightly. I am sure Seattle feels like paradise now.

  3. Richa on July 6th, 2007 11:46 am

    115 deg, wow, that is brutal! but then, i’m sure u did not have to convince urself too hard to remain within the confines of the casino floor ;)
    that gravy sure is RED!

  4. Padmaja on July 6th, 2007 12:20 pm

    Apart from the scorching heat looks like you had a fabulous time with u’r parents!!Its always wonderful to take them around and enjoy isin’t it!!Welcome back!!

  5. Asha on July 6th, 2007 12:24 pm

    We have visited all those cities when we were in Minneapolis and got a sun burn in Vegas too,my first sun burn!:D
    Sounds like great rip although it’s bad time to for sight seeing.I am back from Nashville too,we took Siestas everyday!:D
    Fish curry has a great color.I am not Seafood but I could use the sauce!Good to see you Sig.Hugs.

  6. Gini on July 6th, 2007 12:55 pm

    I will never tire of fish curry recipes and pictures. Keep them coming. Did your parents like the sight seeing.

  7. musical on July 6th, 2007 2:52 pm

    Hey Sig,good to see you back too. Love that picture :) and hey, you want another vacation ;) its sounding quite like India, those high temperatures!!

    take care and relax with some great drinks.
    hugs,
    musical.

  8. Srivalli on July 6th, 2007 3:04 pm

    I said Beef!!!..hahha..at least I was half correct..welcome back….

    srivalli
    www.cooking4allseasons.blogspot.com/

  9. Prema Sundar on July 6th, 2007 8:24 pm

    115 degrees … it sure must be hot. fih curry has got a lovely colour.

  10. Cynthia on July 7th, 2007 2:16 am

    This is the third post in 24 hours that I am seeing of fish curry, what are you all doing to me?!!! And your mom has the right idea - heat, heat and more heat. Look at the colour. I am drooling here.

  11. Jyothsna on July 7th, 2007 5:37 am

    Haha! We always say we need a vacation after a vacation!! Fiery fish curry btw!

  12. Anita on July 7th, 2007 10:29 am

    That is red babay! I have a few pieces of kadampuli that I have been wanting to use…and here is the recipe!

  13. Sandeepa on July 8th, 2007 3:43 am

    That fish curry looks totally yumm and after my very bland dinner at a Japanese restaurant today, I am yearning some of that

  14. KitchenFairy on July 8th, 2007 10:59 am

    Your fish curry looks Yummy!…Rgds to your mother.

  15. Sig on July 8th, 2007 11:32 pm

    Shantanu, yeah I can imagine that… I would love to be in Kerala now, it is Monsoon season there :)

    Indo, yep normally I’d be cribbing about Seattle heat by now :) but this is perfect.

    Richa, lol yep… it was a blessing in disguise… My parents had fun gambling too, good genes I guess ;)

    Padmaja, yep we did have a great time…. :)

    Asha, I’ve been to Vegas countless times before, but I normally spend the nights playing and days sleeping, so never really had to venture outside before… :). And yeah I am totally sunburned too :)

    Gini, :) that goes for most mallus I guess. Yes, they loved the sight seeing, especially seaworld and las vegas.

    Musie, :) thanks. Yep, I always end up needing another vacation after a vacation.

    Srivalli, lol, you are right, you got half right :)

    Prema thanks :)

    Cyn, lol I guess it is the fish curry season :)

    Jyothsna :) Yep normally after the India trips I end up desperately needing another vacation.. but all our vacations here normally are pretty relaxing… I hate sightseeing trips :)

    Anita, hope you try… Kudampuli was made for this curry :)

    Sandeepa, :) lol I am starting to crave some bland food now :D

    kitchenfairy, thanks :)

  16. Amy on July 9th, 2007 7:34 pm

    I love all your curries they always look so good! It’s too bad Steven isn’t a big fan of curry because I love them!

  17. Pravs on July 18th, 2007 9:47 pm

    hey sig .. how are you ? lovely fish curry. Thanks for posting your mom’s recipes. I will def try the recipes :D

  18. SJ on August 14th, 2007 5:19 pm

    Oh My God! This fish curry looks amazing! How did you get that lovely color? Just the red chilly powder? I will definitely try this sometime.

  19. Kudampuli (Gambooge) : Live To Eat on April 3rd, 2008 9:58 pm

    […] Kerala Fish Curry […]

  20. aks on June 2nd, 2008 8:29 am

    it is very good site :(coffee):

    Thanks aks! :)

  21. Lesley on June 24th, 2008 1:19 pm

    You have some incredible dishes on this site! I’m trying to do one world region’s cuisine per week to get down some basic techniques and flavors before I start culinary school in the fall, and between your site and Le Figaro’s website, I would be set for a year of cooking!

    Would it be possible to use veal or beef to replace the trout? Or perhaps grouper?

    Thanks Lesley! That is a great idea to do a different cuisine every week! Good luck with culinary school…

    For this recipe, I think you should stick with fish, grouper or any other fish would go nicely…

  22. jince varghese on June 25th, 2008 11:41 am

    :(Yes): its too much tasty i made fish curry with the help of this recipe. i hope’ll try …enjoy ur self with this recipe

    with hot regards

    smartjince
    :wink:

  23. Lily on July 8th, 2008 9:35 pm

    I must say this is one of the best fish gravies I have made. It turned out excellent!
    Lily

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