Fish Curry is a spicy, delicious flavourful curry made by preparing spice masala & cooking it with fish, tamarind extract & tempered onion, tomato & herbs. Fish Kulambu is a prefect combo for rice and gets tastier with time. Fish Kulambu Recipe explained in this post with step by step pictures.
Fish Curry – And this is my first nonveg post. I eat nonveg but havent dared to start cooking it myself. To me, amma makes the best meen kulambu and I havent tasted any better than hers. When it comes to chicken I like perimmas recipes the best…Shhh hope amma doesnt hear it.
About Fish Curry
Fish Kulambu is one of the popular south indian curries which has tamarind and coconut as main ingredients. Fish Kuzhambu can be made using pomfret fish or vanjaram fish etc.
Fish is mittus fav and as I type this with her on my lap, she saw the pics and now she is asking for fish.
I always held back to click and post nonveg dishes somehow it was not in my comfort zone all these days. But few office collegues and friends had requested to post non veg recipes so am planning to post it occasionally.Finally here sharmis passions has its first non veg recipe.
More Fish Recipes
If you have any more questions about this fish kulambu recipe do mail me at [email protected]. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter .
Tried this fish kulambu recipe ? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.
📖 Recipe Card
Fish Curry | Meen Kulambu
Ingredients
- 9 pieces fish I used Vanjaram fish variety
- a small lemon sized tamarind
- a generous pinch turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander leaves
- salt to taste
To grind to a paste:
- 1/4 cup coconut
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 2 teaspoon coriander powder
To saute & grind:
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 medium sized tomato
- 1 small sized big onion
- 6 nos small onion
To temper:
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 10 nos small onion
- 5 pearls garlic
- 1 medium sized tomato
- few curry leaves
Instructions
- In a teaspoon of oil saute onion tomato till it shrinks and raw smell leaves.
- Add all the ingredients listed under 'to grind' in a mixer along with onion tomato. Sprinkle little water and grind it to a fine paste.
- Soak tamarind in warm water(say 1/4 cup), extract pulp and keep aside. Heat remaining oil in the kadai add mustard seeds, allow it to splutter.
- Clean fish, wash it well and add turmeric powder and set aside. Then add curry leaves, onion, garlic saute for 3mins then add tomatoes saute until raw smell leaves.
- Then add the grinded paste, turmeric powder.
- Add 1/4 cup water (adjust according to thickness) , required salt and allow it to boil for 15-20mins.
- Add tamarind pulp and allow it to boil.
- When oil separates add the cleaned fish pieces. Allow it to boil and the fish to cook well.
- The fish will cook faster so be careful not to break the pieces.
- Once the fish turns soft and the curry is well boiled and thick, oil will start collecting at the edges.
- At this stage garnish with coriander leaves and switch off.
- Give resting time for at least an hour before you serve. Serve hot with rice, tastes heavenly. Fish Curry tastes best the next day or even after that 🙂
Notes
- Once fish is added it gets cooked faster so cant boil for more time, so allow the curry to boil well before the fish is added, which gives a nice taste to the curry.
- You can even marinate the fish with little salt, turmeric powder and lemon as suggested by a reader.
How to make Fish Kulambu
- In a teaspoon of oil saute onion tomato till it shrinks and raw smell leaves.Add all the ingredients listed under ‘to grind’ in a mixer along with onion tomato.Sprinkle little water and grind it to a fine paste.
- Soak tamarind in warm water(say 1/4 cup), extract pulp and keep aside. Heat remaining oil in the kadai add mustard seeds, allow it to splutter. Clean fish, wash it well and add turmeric powder and set aside.Then add curry leaves, onion, garlic saute for 3mins then add tomatoes saute until raw smell leaves.
- Then add the grinded paste,turmeric powder. Add 1/4 cup water(adjust according to thickness) , required salt and allow it to boil for 15-20mins.Add tamarind pulp and allow it to boil
- When oil seperates add the cleaned fish pieces. Allow it to boil and the fish to cook well.
- The fish will cook faster so be careful not to break the pieces. Once the fish turns soft and the curry is well boiled and thick, oil will start collecting at the edges as shown below. At this stage garnish with coriander leaves and switch off.
Give resting time for atleast an hour before you serve. Serve hot with rice, tastes heavenly. Tastes best the next day or even after that 🙂
Expert Tips
- Once fish is added it gets cooked faster so cant boil for more time, so allow the curry to boil well before the fish is added, which gives a nice taste to the curry.
- You can even marinate the fish with little salt, turmeric powder and lemon as suggested by a reader.
Cilantro
Hmmm Delicious! I make mine the same way minus the fennel and tomatoes. Congrats on your 1st nonveg post!!!
Lakshmipriya Natesh
totally simple but handy recipe… i totally nailed my fish kulambu…. thanx sharmi….. One humble suggestion. A piece or two of raw mango would give that xtra punch to the dish…
Nalini's Kitchen
Delicious and yummy….We do make the same way except the fennel seeds.My son also likes to eat fish…
Swathi
Meen curry looks delicious. Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year to you and family.
Sumi
Good one..love the colour of the kuzhambhu.
Torviewtoronto
delicious looking fish curry looks wonderful
sangee vijay
very nice recipe n to note its amma's recipe then sure be a hit…bookmarking…Sharmis very first non veg recipe is simply rocking, plz do share some chicken recipes since i eat chicken only 🙂
Spicy Treats
OnGoing Event ~ Dish It Out-Brinjal n Garlic
Rachana
Wishing you a very happy and successful 2012 🙂
Priya's Feast
Well,Welcome to the club,sharmi.Luv the fish curry to the core…
Sevvanthi
Hi..
Thank you so much for this recipe..
even i never coooked non veg and after seeing your kaara kulambu post i tried fish curry with tat recipe..
it turned out superb.. i always go with ur recipes as the spice levels mentioned suit our taste buds best.. its great to see a non veg recipe here.. thanks alot.
Aarthi
what a lovely fish curry..yum yum
Sookie
Oh the curry looks so good! I love curry so I am anxious to try this dish.
Nagalakshmi V
glad you started posting non-veg as well 🙂 love the lighting in the first pic, very crisp and nice.
happy new year sharmi!
Vimitha Anand
I though u were a veggie.. Waiting for more NV recipes. Meen kulambhu looks so inviting. Bookmarking ur version
faseela
superb curry…amazing presentation….
Priya
Slurp,fingerlicking fish curry,yum yum.
Ramya
happy to see non veg dishes here 🙂 mouthwatering fish curry
Ramya Bala
Very yummy…vanjaram at its best :)COngrats on ur first NV post 😉
divya
Wish you and your family a very Happy New Year…super delicious fish curry….
hemalata
Mouthwatering fish curry,looks very tasty and nice presentation.
Suja
Delicious looking fish curry..
Happy New Year..
Cham
Looks delicious , never made a ground masala for meen Kuzhambu! Should be aromatic!
Happy New Year to u and ur family!
Shabitha Karthikeyan
When I was just browsing in my iphone I saw this recipe and thought I'm into the wrong blog for a second..Fish Kuzhambu looks super good !!! Amma preparation na sollavae venam !!!
Borosil and You
Wow !
This is indeed an Yummy post ! Thanks for sharing. I luv Fish 🙂
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Visit Here: http://www.facebook.com/borosilandyou
Thanks,
Pavithra
Even though i don't eat the color of the kulambu makes me hungry..yumm 🙂
Pavithra
Sharmi is it vanjaram or vajram ?I will send this link to fish lover friends.
Sharmilee! :)
@Pavi : Its vanjaram fish only 🙂
Soni
Thankyou so much for this recipe.I've been wanting to get a Chettinad fish recipe since I love this dish so much.A very Happy New Year to You 🙂
Surekha
Hello,
I tried this receipe last night. It came out so well. I used Salmon though. Thanks for sharing such a nice receipe.
Suri
pavithra
Hi Sharmi,
I tried this today and it was superb means superb. thank u so so much. Also Sharmi can u pls post a fish fry recipe.
Sharmilee! :)
@Pavithra : Thats great to hear and thanks for trying. Fish fry is already posted give a search as fish fry and see 🙂
lavanya
awesome awesome luvd it big time thanx a lot sharmuuuuuu!!!!!
Jayashree519
Sharmi.. I haven't tried fish curry since i started cooking, cos i had an idea that cooking fish is a long n tough process. Wow! You proved it wrong. I tried your easy recipe and it came better than my mom's fish curry. Lol.. Thank you so much.. Lots of love – Jayashree
manju
This s my first fish recipe im preparing first…. mouth watering dish wen seen in picture… Gonna try it today…. Thanks sharmi….
venkat
i tried and it came goood..i became a good cook…thanks sharmi….
Venpani
it came out really well. As i was a new cook, i dont know what is tamarind pulp – confused either the extract or the residues. So, plz add the picture of tamarind pulp as well. Anyway my wife helped me for this. Everything else is really easy to follow and thanks for making me a cook too.
Sharmilee! :)
@Venpani : Sure will update the pic later 🙂
Mrs.Moganapriya Srinivasan
I tried out this recipe, "Really very tasty and yummy !!!" Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe which you've provided over here. And wishes for your upcoming recipes soon…!!! Happy New Year 2013 !!! 🙂
Aiswarya Vivek
hi.. I tried this recipe @ my home… It was so delicious and my family members are really liked it… Thank u so much.. Keep posting more recipe 🙂
Jan
hi Sharmi, you have posted such a great recipe! All my fish curry attempts have ended up into a blunder so far.
And today I could make a fantastic curry with your recipe. We loved it! Thank you so much and looking forward for upcoming recipes which will be of immense help for beginners like me:)
kalyani
Tried this today for lunch:) loved it:) thanks a lot…should I need to refrigerate it to use for tomorrow or I just can keep outside? Awaiting your reply…
Sharmilee! :)
Just refrigerate it and then heat it up tomorrow while serving
Rebi
Today I had prepared it in my home. I never tried fish in my cooking.. The very first moment of this recipe given me a different taste . I am loving the kolambu.. thanks for posting.
Vasanthi
At my home i prepare the same way except that I add methi (fenugreek/vendhayam) powder (dry roasted methi ground in a mixer grinder)which lifts up the aroma little more than the whole methi seeds.
Priyamohan
I tried it today and it tastes superb…thnks sharmi… when iam planning to do a dish tat iam not confident enough or even to try a new dish, i just check into ur blog..no worries!!
Mini Jyothish
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have already made it 3 times and my son loves it 🙂
THAMS
I tried it was good L:)
Saran
Really its a good recipe and nice presentation. Right now I am preparing it.. Cant wait to dig in.. Thanks for the recipe..
bhuvanesh
Hi Madam, Awesome recipe. Thanks a lot. My wife is so happy to see your recipe and she is very much glad! Keep up the excellent work.
GayuBhuvan
janu
hello sharmi..
thanks for ur recipe… I am a vegetarian, but my hubby shall have anything that flies, swims, walks 😀
So i wanted to make fish curry for him..Today tried it..he tasted and the only thing he said was ' pattaya kilapittiye' 🙂 Thanks for helping me getting his comment.. Even though i didnt eat it, am sure ur recipe is good which i know from his comment.. Thanks again…
Archana Shekar
I tried ur fish curry today it tasted little sweet and little spicy does it taste like that
SHARMILEE J
It depends on the onion and tomato varirty + / – spice level accordingly
Archana Shekar
Thanx
Archana Shekar
I tried ur fish curry today it tasted little sweet and little spicy does it taste like that
JEET
thanks for sharing, its delicious 🙂
Sajitha Saleem
Sharmi, you are my cooking encyclopedia. Wow, fish curry turned well. I have tried many of ur recipes. The taste is always guaranteed best. Thanks a bunch
Sheela Balamurugan
Shrami, I made an excellent fish curry first time in my life yesterday .. followed your method.. it came out awesome.. we kept the restover for today..am waiting to return home to have it..now i have confident in making fish kuzhambu..lots of appreciation from my husband too..hats off to you!!!
Jonathan Dass Bernard
Can't we use fish curry powder into the mix
SHARMILEE J
Yes you can…
jansi rani
I thing for your very best cooker the tasty is very soft and smooth so i like the kuzuambu
jansi rani
The fish curry is very soft and very tasty so thanks
K Suryadodi
Sharmi every time when I do fish kulambu it will be a disaster but ur way I tried it and came out really well but instead of using fennel seeds I added small amount of cumin and pepper seeds
Ambica R
Sharmi tried this curry just now and immediately wanted to give this comment… The taste was too good… My husband appreciated a lot. Thanks for your recipe. I just have one doubt.. I added enough salt but still when taken with rice I felt it was not enough. They say fish will take all the salt. So how do I decide the amount of salt.
SHARMILEE J
May be you can taste a bit and see to check if the salt is right in between and adjust accordingly.
ANBE SIVAM
use little bit of palm sugar in the end…Tastes divine..
Priyadharshini Arulselvan
Hi u hav mentioned coconut 1/4 cup, could u pls tell whether it is grated coconut or coconut pieces
SHARMILEE J
It is 1/4 cup grated coconut……
Priya Ramkumar
made this fish kulambu for lunch today and we all liked it … Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Unknown
Hi Sharmi!
I'm a fan of your blog. I've tried lots of recipes posted by you but never commented on it 😉
Today I tried your fish curry recipes Oh God! It came out very well & my whole family enjoyed eating it. My husband was very impressed today as he always tells me I'm yet to learn meen kozhambu. Thanks very much for this yummy recipe for us.
Anyone who have not tried this recipe please don't miss to try this one.
Ganesh
Authentic chettinad fish curry. Really delicious n yummy.. Thanks sharmis.. Your blog i always bookmark it in pc,mobiles, tabs etc; really best n delicious recipes.. awesome blog with Step by step procedures,photos and notes section are detailed.. Tried many and most came out really well.most of mistakes was due to me due to measuring difficulties. Thanks n keep up goood work.. I m fan of ur blog..
James Sundar
When to add the Tamarind? it is mentioned in two places{
Then add the grinded paste,turmeric powder and tamarind pulp. Add 1/4 cup water(adjust according to thickness) , required salt and allow it to boil for 15-20mins.Add tamarind paste and allow it to boil
SHARMILEE J
Thats a typo, tamarind pulp should be added after adding water.
Marcia Dilip
This recipe made my fish kuzhambu yummy. Thanks for sharing . I have tried most of your recipes. They have always turned out delicious.
Ranjini Dhinakar
Hi Sharmi!
First of all, let me Thank u for d simple n quick recipe.
I had never tried fish curry n my husband keeps scolding me for not cooking fish at home, n yesterday wen I tried it with d help of ur recipe it was awesome n my hubby appreciated me for d same. N he told me cook fish on every Sunday hereafter. Am so excited. All credit goes to u. I dint find any small onions in d nearby stores, so I added regular onions still it came out well. I'll try with small onions d next time. Once again thank u very much for d simple recipe. Please keep posting more n more non-veg recipes. It's helps many non-veg cooking learner like me.
Unknown
Sema taste
Nithya Sathis
Hi Sharmi,
Thanks for this wonderful recipe,which turned out extremely lip smacking…and which fetched me a pat on my back from hubby. <3
My native is near pollachi, currently living in London. Hope to see u one day…