Meen vevichathu is Kerala style Red fish curry made here with Pompano fish Kerala style. A spicy delicious finger licking good curry to have with heavily loaded carbs like rice or tapioca.
Kappa/Tapioca and fish curry has been the favorite solid midday meal of any seafood loving malayalee .Though combination remains the same throughout Kerala , the recipe for fish curry differs in every household.
While the Kottayam and Kuttanadan girls dispute on the fieriness of their respective fish curries,I have only one recipe that the fisherman's wife makes 🙂
When the fishermen go for deep sea fishing they will have to anchor and spend a day or two in the sea to procure enough to make profits from their travel.To survive in the sea these types of spicy curries are taken along with them which can last without spoiling until they return.
The fisherman's wife -she likes to be addressed like that ! I call her chechi (sis) was with us since her late teens and often made this curry.She is an expert in cooking non vegetarian dishes ( I will be posting some of her recipes soon). An amazing quality of her's which impressed us time and again is she never had issues with guests coming over on short notice she would put a spread of simple dishes and a beautiful smile and the guests would go ga gaa over the taste.
My daughty is a meen curry person .She does a decent job of separating fish bones from flesh all by herself since very young..Even while she struggles with the heat she doesn't fail to say," ahha I am loving it !" Now that's the reward I get for all the pain of packing earthenware and bringing it half the globe even though I am half as good as chechi.
I must tell you that there are so many things that contribute to the perfect curry like earthenware,coconut oil etc ...More than the frozen fillets the whole fresh fish with skin ,cut into pieces only tastes good in such preparation . The oils from the skin add to the tastes and also the fish head (meen talla) tastes best in this .
Ingredients
Fish - (King fish /Neimeen,Choora/Tuna, Pomfret / Avoli )I have used
Pompano here.Use any fleshy fish u like.around 10 -12 pieces.Preferably with cleaned fish head.
Ginger- 1 inch pieces chopped
Garlic - 4 -5 flakes chopped
Green chili - 2
Small onion- 5-6 sliced
Cambodge / Kudampuli - 4 (soaked in 1/2 glass warm water)
Red chili powder - 1 tsp +1 tsp to marinate
Kashmiri chili powder- 2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp+1/4 tsp to marinate
Fenugreek powder- 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp (optional)
Salt- to taste
Mustard- 1/2 tsp
Lemonjuice / vinegar-1 tbsp
Curry leaves
Coconut oil- Few tsps
While buying fish try to get it cleaned by the monger or else u will have to remove the scales,fins,tail,gills,teeth and belly parts.I admit the cleaning efficiency comes only with practice one cannot clean fish all of a sudden!!:)
Method
1.Marinate the clean fish pieces in chili powder turmeric powder salt and lime juice/vinegar for half an hr to 45 mts.
2.In a small bowl put chili powder,turmeric powder,coriander powder,fenugreek powder and lil water (may be 2 to 3 tbsps) to make it a paste.DO NOT OMIT THIS STEP ( directly adding powders to oil- it will alter the color and get burnt easily)
3.Heat the earthenware pour coconut oil swirl the pot when oil is hot enough add mustard when it crackles add ginger when it slightly yellows add garlic ,green chili ,curry leaves and small onion , saute till onions are golden brown reduce flame and add the paste saute and wait until the powders slightly cook in the oil and oil separates from the sides.
4.Add the kudampuli and the soaked water and 1/2 glass more water so that the fish will be almost immersed.Bring this to boil now reduce heat add fish pieces cover it and let it simmer on low heat for 20-25 mts till the pieces are well cooked and the gravy is reduced.
Do not disturb the fish pieces with ladle while cooking as the pieces might break.Ensure the fish curry doesn't get burnt at the bottom by slowly moving the earthenware from side to side.Every few minutes take the lid out and throw the water vapor collected on it .She says vendavellam spoils the curry and taste.
Use this curry the next day for enhanced taste.Leave it at room temperature, do not have to refrigerate.
Serve it along with Kappa puzhuku ,some moru curry,or not so spicy curry to pour on top of the rice,thoran and red rice..
Kappa and any meen curry served to me or better my whole family is a sure short way of seeing us polishing our plates on any given day :))
Note
- If u live in hotter climates then heat the curry once or twice everyday until it is over and leave out the coriander powder.Though it adds thickness to the curry it aids in faster spoiling too.If u find the curry completely dried up and u need some gravy add very little water and boil along with fish it in the same pot.
This is not a real gravy curry but a super spicy hot side dish that will help you finish plates of rice without any other curry..(Do not over eat though!!and spend time behind locked door! got it :))
- U might see a film of oil floating on top of the curry if the fish used has lot of oil..
- While using whole fish with skin ( before cutting into pieces) after removing fish scales it is rubbed against a stone surface to scrape off some of the silver color on the fish.If small fish is used then she would put rock salt and move the fish in circular motion several times inside the earthenware itself and wash off .
Let me know if u liked this one. Tell me the different ways u guys make red fish curry .
Meena
Rafeeda AR
this looks really yummy... the last pic is droolworthy...
nisha s
Delicious fish curry and such amazing clicks 🙂 Seeing this,I am feeling hungry now in the mid of night !! 🙂
Meena Kumar
Thank you so much dear.
Meena Kumar
Nisha, thanks so much dear.
Ruxana Gafoor
kappa and fish curry is always a v.good combo...liked your fish curry..specially the red colour..
Chitz
Amazing write up dear... We too love this combination...Bookmarked..
Meena Kumar
Hi Hasna,
Thank you so much for coming to my space,joining me and now inviting me over too.U won't believe this morning I was just thinking I must write about our granny and send it for ur mother's day event.Will surely send dear.
Meena Kumar
I know...the color is enough to scare people away right!! ..he hee .It is aptly named fiery hot red curry.But once the flavors sink in ,I mean the next day it is only as hot as non veg curries should be.Thank goodness we all started using Kashmiri chili powder alleeee...
Meena Kumar
Sabeena dear thank you.
Meena Kumar
Chitz if u ever make it send me a pic I will post it here(if u don't mind) and link back to your space.what do u say :))
Sebeena Loyd
Meena, this look so lovely and delicious. adipoli and kothiyavunu
Akila
Wow what a reddish n spicy fish curry!
Meena Kumar
Hi Akila,
Thanks
Navaneetham Krishnan
Gosh!!!!!! This is a killer curry because I love love these type of curries. I am so tempted, in fact saliva almost coming out but need to hold back until I try out your recipe.
Meena Kumar
he ..heee... thanks Nava!
nisha s
Cooooool Template dear 🙂
anishathefoodie
Wow Meena ... beautiful colour ... fish curry kandittu mouth is watering ...thanks for the visit to my blog
Anisha
Meena Kumar
Glad u liked my header creation.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Anisha.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Nilu.
Nilu A
OMG! This is really mouthwatering!! You've made it perfectly... Thanks for dropping by my blog... I'm following yours now... Happy Blogging 🙂
Rekha Vengalil
Wow looks yum! mouthwatering!!!! 🙂
Love to Experiment
Very very yummy and mouth watering...
kavis
First time here. Tried ur recipe n it's came out very well..must say the combo with kappa made the curry more delicious(heaven) but couldn't reached as reddish color as urs but happy with the taste. with ur permissions can i share ur link in fb with my friends. Thanks
Meena Kumar
Thank you Rekha
Meena Kumar
Jannet,thankyou
Meena Kumar
Kavi,Thanks a ton for trying out my recipe and letting me know. I think the Kashmiri chili powder I use is heavily pigmented,that sure affects the color of the curry.Please do share the link.
kavis
Thank you for dropping at mine n for ur lovely words.Next time I will try with different brand Kashmiri n chilli powder. Thanks a bunch for allowing me to share.
Meena Kumar
That was a quick response Kavi:)
Merlin Sheeba F
Hi Meena, The Recipe looks so damn delicious. can I add lime as well as vinegar to marinate?
Meena Kumar
Hi Merlin,I would recommend adding only one of it as kudampulli is also used ,everything together will add up and make the curry really tangy.Do try and let me know how it came out please.
Anonymous
Hi Meena
I tried this curry. Taste is perfect. But coudn't get the red colour.How can I get the same color.
I love that color. What brand of chilli powder thar you using. Any other tips to get that lovely red color.? hope you will reply to me
Thanks
Simmy ,Dubai
Meena Kumar
Hi Simmy,
Thank you so much for trying it and giving me the feedback. I usually pick up any Indian brand Kashmiri chili powder, whenever available sometimes they are heavily pigmented.These days I use Deer brand paprika too which almost matches the deep color in pic:).Hope that helps.
Sneha
I'm making this for my mom tomorrow! 🙂 Thanks for such a great and easy recipe 😀
Sneha Sunil
Thanks for such an easy and tasty recipe! Will be making this for my mom tomorrow 🙂
Meena Kumar
Thank you again Sneha.
Meena Kumar
Thank you so much for stopping by.I am really sorry for such a late reply.I just hope ur mom liked the fish curry.Do let me know when u get a chance.
Advina Jones
This recipe is as similar as which i eat in an Indian restaurant in Calgary, my experience is awesome, Thanks for giving such a wonderful knowledge about it, now i am going to cook at home with the help of your blog. Thank you.