Easy Fish Curry / Indian Fish Curry

This easy fish curry is a flavorful and aromatic dish. A basic fish curry made without coconut, coconut milk or tamarind. It is a quick and easy fish curry recipe using basic ingredients. The soul satisfying fish curry goes perfectly well with rice.

This delicious and simple fish curry is made with just onion, tomato , ginger garlic, chilli and some spice powders. This is a straightforward recipe. No frying of fish,  grinding of spices, grating of coconut or soaking of tamarind which we usually do while making traditional fish curry. The fish curry is ready under 20 minutes and then taken off the heat and left covered for atleast 30 minutes for the flavors to penetrate deeply. It’s sprinkled with fresh coriander leaves and squeeze freshly lemon juice to give it one last hit of flavour and freshness.

If you are looking for the easiest fish curry to make then try this recipe. It needs only basic  ingredients easily available in every pantry and gets done in less than 20 minutes bursting with flavour.  Serve it over steamed rice for an easy Indian fish meal.

Sometimes when you are up against time, making a traditional fish curry seams like a tedious job. So when you are in those period of time try out this simple fish curry which uses only onions and tomatoes and few basic ingredients.

You can make this simple fish curry with any variety fish. I made with Indian basa (Pangasius), but you can make with rohu, vanjaram (king fish/seer fish), red snapper, pomfret, mackerel, lady fish etc.

WHY MAKE THIS CURRY?

* Fuss free and tt really doesn’t get easier than this. All you need is a good fresh fish, onion, tomato, ginger garlic, some masala powder, and a few other pantry staples like oil, salt, water, etc.
* Quick, easy and a straightforward recipe. This recipe requires no grinding, soaking or grating. This is so simple and easy that even a novice and bachelors can make them easily and enjoy it.
* Simple and a delicious fish curry perfect for steam rice.
* You can adjust the level of spiciness with your choice of chili pepper and the quantity as per your palate preference.
* The best part is that this easy fish curry is ready under 20 minutes. So when you are in a rush or don’t want to do an elaborate cooking then this is it.
* You can use any variety fish, prawns  and even crab to make this curry. How cool is that!
* You can make this curry a day ahead, because it taste so good the next day, the flavours will develop and gets into the fish.

So try this out and tell me how it turned out and your thoughts about the recipe in the comments below. I would love to read it!

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE EASY FISH CURRY

This section explains what all ingredients is used in making easy fish curry, how to use or choose certain ingredients and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

FISH – We used  Indian basa fish (pangasius). You can use any rohu, tilapia, pomfret, red snapper, king fish, mackerel etc all these will work for this recipe.

OIL –  The recipe uses sunflower refined oil. You can use mustard oil or what cooking oil.

ONION – Regular onion is used here. You can also use shallots (small onions).

GINGER AND GARLIC – Freshly pound (crushed) ginger garlic is used here. I always prefer using freshly ground ginger garlic as it impart more more and enhances the taste of the dish. You can use store bought ginger garlic paste.

CHILLI – I used green chilli. You can use dry red chilli and can adjust the heat preference depending upon your taste buds.

TOMATO – Regular tomato is used in the recipe. You can use cherry tomato instead. Adding tomato to fish curry will enhance the taste and texture of the curry, however you can skip it and use tamarind extract or tamarind paste as a spring agent.

SPICES  –  The recipe uses only masala powders and bot whole spices. The masala spice powders uses are turmeric powder, red chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, pepper powder and garam masala powder. These masala powders can be swap with curry powder you have. You can also use fish curry masala which is readily available in the market.

SALT as per taste

WATER as required

HERBS – Sprinkle fresh coriander leaves and lemon juice at the end of the cooking for the extra freshness and flavour to the curry.

HOW TO MAKE EASY FISH CURRY?

STEP BY STEP PICTORIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE EASY FISH CURRY

Wash the fish well and drain off the water nicely. Keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan or pot. Add in onion and ginger garlic. Saute for a minute.

Add in green chilli, tomato and salt as per taste. Saute and cook until tomato turns soft and mushy.

Add in the masala powders, mix well and saute for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Add in the water and mix well to combine. Allow the water boil and cook for about 2 minutes.

Add in the fish and gently mix well. Put on the lid and cook for 8-10 minutes.

Adjust the gravy consistency and turn off the heat.

Add in the chopped coriander leaves and squeeze the lemon juice. Give a quick and gently mix. Enjoy!

NOTES:

* Use your preferred choice of fish.
* You can use prawns or crab for the same recipe.
* You can lightly fry the fish which is rub with salt and turmeric before putting in the curry.
* You use coconut oil also which gives a nice flavour and aroma to the fish curry.
* You can use both fresh and frozen fish. But I prefer using fresh fish.
* Traditionally fish curries are made in earthen pot especially in villages. If you have them use it or otherwise, regular pot will work too.

VARIATIONS:

* You can deep fry or lightly fry the fish pieces before you add them to the curry. Just rub little salt and turmeric powder over the fish and fry them.
* If you don’t want to use the masala powders or don’t have them with you, you can make a quick fresh masala paste. In a mixie or mortar and pestle grind green chillies or red chillies, ginger, garlic, cinnamon sticks, cardamom, cloves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and turmeric in a mortar and pestle to make a spicier curry. Saute the paste along with onion and follow the recipe  at it is mentioned.
* You can add coconut milk or fresh grated coconut and tamarind extract or paste.
* You can add Gobi aka cauliflower or peas. This are nice make a nice combo with fish curry.

RECIPE CARD

Easy Fish Curry

Akum Raj Jamir

This easy fish curry is a flavorful and aromatic dish. A basic fish curry made without coconut, coconut milk or tamarind. It is a quick and easy fish curry recipe using basic ingredients. The soul satisfying fish curry goes perfectly well with rice.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Equipment

• Pot or frying pan
• Ladle

Ingredients

  

• 500 Grams Fish
• 2 Tablespoon Oil
• 2 Medium Onion chopped
• 1 Tablespoon Ginger garlic ground/crushed
• 2 Large Green chilli slit
• 2 Medium Tomato chopped
• ½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 2 Teaspoon Red chilli powder
• 2 Teaspoon Coriander powder
• 1 Teaspoon Cumin powder
• ½ Teaspoon Pepper powder
• 1 Teaspoon Garam masala powder
• 2 Teaspoon Salt Or as per taste
• 2 Cups Water Or as required
• ¼ Cup Coriander leaves chopped
• 1 Teaspoon Lemon juice Or juice if ½ lemon

Instructions

 

• Heat oil in a pan or pot. Add in onion and ginger garlic. Saute for a minute.
• Add in green chilli, tomato and salt as per taste. Saute and cook until tomato turns soft and mushy.
• Add in the masala powders, mix well and saute for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add in the water and mix well to combine. Allow the water boil and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Add in the fish and gently mix well. Put on the lid and cook for 8-10 minutes.
• Adjust the gravy consistency and turn off the heat.
• Add in the chopped coriander leaves and squeeze the lemon juice. Give a quick and gently mix. Enjoy!

Notes

1. Use your preferred choice of fish.
2. You can use prawns or crab for the same recipe.
3. You can lightly fry the fish which is rub with salt and turmeric before putting in the curry.
4. You use coconut oil also which gives a nice flavour and aroma to the fish curry.
5. You can use both fresh and frozen fish. But I prefer using fresh fish.
6. Traditionally fish curries are made in earthen pot especially in villages. If you have them use it or otherwise, regular pot will work too.

Keyword fish curry, indian basa curry, indian fish curry, pangasius curry

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Well, if you make this easy fish curry recipe I’ll be glad if you take out some time and rate the recipe and leave a feedback in the comments box below. You can also snap a photo and tag Akum Raj Jamir on Facebook and akumrajjamir on Instagram with hashtag #atmykitchen. I would love to see your creations.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I hope you liked the recipe. Your valuable feedbacks are always welcome, I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every one of you.

Happy Cooking!
Love Akum

About Akum Raj Jamir

administrator

Hello Everyone.. I am Akum Raj Jamir. I am a Naga Lady born and bought up from Nagaland. Married to a Tamilian and settled in Chennai now.  I worked in hotel industry for 3 years and later I shifted to corporate sector and worked in US based MNC companies. In January 2014 I was blessed with a baby boy and that it when I decided to quit my job and give me full time for him as well as the home. Now I am a homemaker ☺.  I started cooking at the very small age. We sisters used to help mom in the kitchen and followed the foot step of my mom and that's how I developed my cooking skills. A foodie by nature and a passionate cook, loves everything about food. Cooking is my passion. I love experimenting with food in my kitchen and try to bring the best in whatever I cook. I cook with all my heart and soul and this love is evident in the dishes I cook.  I believe in sharing a lot thus whatever I cook I share with fellow friends and my fan followings. So this space is all about food from my kitchen for foodies like me. Explore the recipes ☺