Ingredients: Fish (Preferably fleshy) 1 kg Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds- 1/4 tsp asafoetida - a pinch Garlic sliced - 1.5 tsp Gingersliced 1.5 tsp Curry leaves- 2 sprigs
Shallots -sliced- 4 to 5 nos chili powder- 4 tbsp (mix 2 tbsp of kashmiri chilly and red chilly powder) Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp Fenugreek powder- a pinch Gambooge(Kudampuli) - 2 to 3 small pieces Coconut Oil,Water, Salt - as required
Steps: Boil a cup of water, add gambooge and little salt and keep it aside Heat Coconut oil in clay pot Add mustard seeds,let it splutter. Add fenugreek seeds Add asafoetida
Now add Garlic, ginger, shallots, curry leaves (in this order, saute for 5 seconds after adding garlic and ginger) Saute until shallots turn golden brown. Add turmeric powder Switch off the flame and add chilli powder (mix of kashmiri chili powder and normal chilly powder)
Add fenugreek powder Saute for about 2-3 minutes ,stirring continuously ; take care not to burn the paste Now add about quarter cup of water, to make a thick paste of the mix (Do not add lot of water at this stage, consistency should be of a thick batter)
pick the gambooge from water and add that to this paste cook until all the spices are cooked well and oil leaves the side of the dish Now add required amount of water inlucding the water in which gambooge was soaked(as much required to soak all the fish pieces) Let the water boil.
Add salt to taste Now add fish pieces Cover and cook over a medium heat ,until fish is cooked.
Note: I suggested adding gambooge to boiling water to get the juice out of it easily You can adjust amounts of kashmiri chilly and normal chilly according to your spice levels Make atleast 2 hrs before the meal.
The step where you add water is important to get a thick gravy. Note that at least half a cup of water would be released from the fish.so measure accordingly
This recipe doesn't required to add coriander powder (if you add coriander powder even if the amount of water goes wrong you will get thick gravy, but the dish would not last longer). Fish curry always test best the next day!
