Mangalore Fish Curry

This sour and spicy preparation brings out the best flavours in this type of fish.

For the Fish Curry you will need:

Fish like- Mackerals/ Sardines/ Herrings- 1 kilo

Salt- 1 tsp

Vinegar- 1tbsp

Ingredients for masala: To grind finely

Kashmiri red chillies :12-13 nos

Pepper corns: 10

Whole coriander seeds : 1/2 tsp

Tumeric: 1/2 tsp

Garlic: 3 large flakes

Tamarind extract: 2tsps / or extract juice from marble size tamarind after soaking for a few minutes in 3 tbsps warm water

Dried Kokisan/ kokum leaves: 3

Coconut grated- 3 tbsps

Slicings to be added to curry:

Onions sliced: 1

Tomatoe chopped: 1/2 small

Ginger crushed: 1 inch

Green chillies slit: 3 nos

Garlic flakes sliced: 4 large.

Vinegar to taste

Salt to taste

Seasoning:

Coconut oil/vegetable oil: 3 tsps

Curry leaves: 1 sprig

Method:

1. Clean and gut the fish. Cut fish into curry size pieces, if using sardines, leave whole. Make slits along fish body to allow flavours to penetrate. Pour 1 tbsp vinegar and sprinkle salt over fish. Rub gently into fish. Leave aside for 10 minutes. This step helps to reduce the fishy smell in the fish.

2. Grind the masala ingredients to a fine paste using 1/4 to half cup water /as required.

3. In a large thick bottomed vessel place the ground masala and add in 2 cups of masala water/ more or less as required. Bring to boil, add all the slicings, vinegar and salt to taste. Close the vessel and allow slicings to cook on medium flame for 5 minutes or more till they soften.

4. Now gently place the fish flat in the curry in a single layer, and cook covered till the fish is done (10-12 minutes) . Do not overcook the fish. The fish flesh will turn white, opaque and firm- up when cooked. Do not use a spoon to move the fish around, simply turn vessel gently in a circular motion to move curry over the fish.

5. Taste again for salt and sourness, add salt/ vinegar as required.

6. For seasoning: In a small pan heat coconut oil to smoking, add curry leaves, once leaves are fried and aromatic pour over fish curry.

Fish Curry is ready.

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