Sri Lankan fish curry
- Preparation and cooking time
- Total time
- Easy
- Serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- a pinch hot chili powder
- 800g skinless firm white fish fillet, cut into large chunks
- 2-4 long green chillies, roughly chopped
- a thumb-sized piece ginger, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- groundnut oil
- 2 onions, finely sliced
- 1 tbsp black mustard seeds
- a handful curry leaves
- 400g vine tomatoes, chopped
- 400g tin coconut milk
- 150ml light fish stock
- 2 tbsp tamarind paste
- steamed rice, to serve
SPICE MIX
- 2 tsp coriander seeds
- 2 pods cardamon, seeds only
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 2 tsp fenugreek seeds
Method
- STEP 1
Toast all the spice mix ingredients in a dry frying pan for a few minutes until starting to smell fragrant. Tip into a spice grinder and blend to a powder.
- STEP 2
Mix the lime juice, turmeric and chilli powder in a large bowl with a pinch of salt. Add the fish pieces and carefully toss in the marinade. Cover and chill.
- STEP 3
Whizz the chillies, ginger and garlic in a small blender until you make a paste. Add 1 tbsp water if you need to, to help blend.
- STEP 4
Heat a little oil in a large wide pan or deep frying pan and fry the chilli paste for a minute. Add the spice mix, fry for another minute, then add the onion, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Fry for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and fry until they start to break down, then add the coconut milk and stock. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened slightly. Season, and add the tamarind paste.
- STEP 5
Remove the fish pieces from the marinade, and add to the pan, tucking them into the sauce. Gently poach for 5 minutes until the fish is cooked and starting to flake. Serve with steamed rice.
