South Indian Fish Curry (Meen Kulambu)

By Petrina Verma Sarkar

Updated 09/22/18

South Indian Fish Curry
The Spruce
Ratings (122)
  • Total: 3 hrs 30 mins
  • Prep: 3 hrs 15 mins
  • Cook: 15 mins
  • Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
770 Calories
43g Fat
103g Carbs
9g Protein
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

South Indian cuisine includes the recipes of the five southern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. This South Indian fish curry recipe, also called meen kulambu, is a delicately-flavored dish that can be served with idli (a savory cake) or dosa (a type of fermented batter pancake).

The availability of different varieties of fish makes this dish very flexible. Feel free to use rainbow trout, tilapia, or even pollock if you don't have the threadfin bream that is commonly used in this dish. This dish is traditionally served with plain boiled rice and the tamarind in the gravy gives the rice a lovely tangy flavor.

Ingredients

  • 12 (1-inch thick) pieces of fish (any fish with firm white flesh)
  • 7 to 8 dry red chilies
  • 1 golf ball-sized lump of tamarind (soak in 2 cups hot water)
  • 2 tablespoons coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 small coconut (grated)
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • Salt (to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons cooking oil (vegetable, canola, or sunflower)
  • 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
  • 8 to 10 curry leaves
  • 2 green chilies
  • 2 medium-sized onions (ground to a paste)
  • 1 large tomato (chopped fine)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients for south indian fish curry
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  2. Use a mortar and pestle to pound the dry red chilies into a coarse paste using a teaspoon of water.

    Grinding chilis with mortar and pestle.
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  3. Squeeze the soaked tamarind well to release all the pulp from it. Strain the thick tamarind juice and discard the pith and seeds.

    Tamarind juice.
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  4. Mix the red chili paste and tamarind juice with the coriander and turmeric powders and salt to taste. Then add the grated coconut and half the coconut milk. Mix well.

    Mixed seasonings for fish curry.
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  5. Put the pieces of fish in a large, flat dish and pour the above mixture over it to cover. Make sure all the pieces are coated. Marinate for 3 hours.

    Marinating fish for fish curry.
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  6. Heat the cooking oil in a deep pan, on a medium flame till hot. Add the curry leaves, fenugreek seeds, green chilies. Fry for roughly 2 minutes, or until the oil stops splattering.

    Frying curry leaves.
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  7. Now add half the onion paste. Fry until the onion begins to brown very slightly.

    Brown the onion paste in oil.
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  8. Add the chopped tomato.

    Adding tomato to a curry base.
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  9. Fry till the spices start to release their oil and tomato turns darker. Stir frequently while frying.

    Cooking tomatoes and onions down for curry.
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  10. Now add the fish marinade and stir.

    Fish marinade added to curry vegetables.
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  11. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the garlic paste, pepper, cumin, remaining onion paste, and remaining coconut milk.

    Bring fish curry to a boil.
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  12. Simmer and cook until oil begins to appear on top of the gravy.

    Simmering fish curry.
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  13. Add the pieces of fish and cook till done. If stirring, do so very gently to avoid breaking the pieces of fish.

    Fish added to the curry.
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  14. Turn off heat.

    South Indian fish curry.
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  15. Serve South Indian fish curry on top of plain boiled rice and enjoy!