Delicious Kudam Puli Fish Curry To Go With Kottayam Style Kappa Vevichathu

Kudam Puli Fish Curry is one of the various types of fish curry in a Keralite’s house. Serve it for breakfast with Kottayam Style Kappa Vevichathu.

Kudam Puli Fish Curry

Ingredients

• Fish – 1 lb (Tilapia fillets is used in this recipe)
• Kudam Puli (Fish Tamarind/Gambooge) – 2 pieces
• Kunjulli (Shallots) – 3 or 4
• Red Chilly Powder – 1/2 tsp
• Paprika Powder – 1/2 tbsp
• Fish Masala Powder -1 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder – 1/2 tsp
• Coriander Powder – 2 tsp
• Mustard Seeds – 1/2 tsp
• Sliced Onion – 1 large
• Slit Green Chillies – 3
• Garlic Cloves (finely chopped) – 4 or 5
• Ginger (finely Sliced) – 2 tbsp
• Fenugreek Powder (Uluva podi) – 1/2 tsp
• Curry Leaves – A sprig
• Cilantro (Coriander Leaves) – A handful
• Water – 1 cup or more as needed
• Salt – to taste

For Marinating

• Fish Masala Powder – 2 tbsp ( Eastern Fish Masala is used in this recipe)
• Ginger Paste – 1/2 tsp
• Garlic Paste – 1/2 tsp
• Salt – As required

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Method

• Clean, wash and cut the fish into medium sized pieces. Add a pinch of turmeric while washing the fish.
• Marinate the fish with 2 tbsp Fish Masala Powder, 1/2 tsp ginger paste, 1/2 tsp garlic paste and salt. Keep it aside for half an hour.
• Soak the Kudam Puli in a little water.
• Heat a non-stick pan. Roast shallots (kunjulli), 1 tbsp fish masala powder, 1/2 tsp chilly powder, 1/2 tbsp paprika powder and 2 tsp coriander powder on low heat. Grind it into a smooth paste with little water. (I used Paprika powder so that the curry gets a bright red colour and doesn’t become very spicy.)
• Heat oil in a kadai and splutter mustard seeds.
• Add onions, green chillies, curry leaves, ginger and garlic and saute for a while.
• When the onions turn brown, add the ground masala paste along with 1 cup water and salt.
• When the gravy starts boiling, add the fish pieces and kudam puli/gambooge pieces.
• Add more water if required, so as to cover the fish pieces.
• Sprinkle some uluva/fenugreek powder.
• Cover and cook on gentle heat for around 15 minutes.
• If you like the taste of cilantro, garnish with a handful.