Coconut Fish Curry

Inspired by my Mom 🙂

Ingredients:

Marinate

• 3 fillets of firm fish — i used tilapia
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder

• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/8 tsp turmeric powder
• 8 to 10 curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp garlic paste
• 2 small green chilies, slitted
• 1 medium red onion, grated
• 2 small tomatoes, quartered
• 2 heaping tbsp fish curry powder*
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 2 tsp tamarind*
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Cube fish fillets to desired size. Marinate with juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/8 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder. Set aside for at least 15 minutes.
2. In large saucepan, heat coconut oil on medium. Once oil is heated, sprinkle in some mustard seeds. Wait for seeds to sputter a little before adding turmeric powder, curry leaves, garlic paste and green chilies. Cook for a minute.
3. Add grated red onion and cook until fragrant and everything comes together as a paste. This should take about 5 minutes.
4. Throw in quartered tomatoes, fish curry powder, chili powder, tamarind, salt and black pepper. Fry for a few minutes until oil separates.
5. Heat a separate non-stick skillet on medium high, add 1 tbsp coconut oil and fry marinated fish cubes for 2 minutes on each sides until lightly golden.
6. Once the paste is nice and golden, add coconut milk and water.
7. Add skillet fried fish cubes in the gravy, cover and simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes or until oil separates and gravy thickens.
8. Serve coconut fish curry hot with a serving of rice and salad!

*Note: You can purchase fish curry powder from any ethnic Indian grocery store. It is not the same as regular “curry powder”. As for tamarind, it usually comes in paste form. If not, fresh tamarind needs to soak in some warm water a few minutes before adding into curries.