Fish Curry (Meen Columbu)
Posted on 07. Feb, 2009 by Uma in Main Courses, Sauces & Currys
The peninsular Southern India has a long coast on its eastern side bordering the Bay of Bengal and so we get a wide variety of sea food like fish, crab and prawns in Tamil Nadu. Meen Columbu or fish curry is one of the most traditional fish dishes made in Tamil Nadu and other southern states. Most varieties of fish can be used to make this dish. Preferences vary from region to region.
For non-vegetarians, fish is a healthy food containing omega-3 fatty acids which reduce bad cholesterol. Fish is also rich in protein.
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
Fish : any fish 250 grams.
Small onions (shallots) – 75 grams
Cloves garlic -8 nos
Tomato -2 nos or 50 grams
Tamarind – one lime size piece
Turmeric powder – half teaspoon
Chilli powder -one and a half teaspoon
Coriander powder - one teaspoon
Mustard seed -half a teaspoon
Fennel seeds (methi) – half a teaspoon
Oil -1 table spoon
Coconut gratings -2 table spoon
Curry leaves – 2 sprigs.
Method: Wash and clean fish thoroughly. Soak tamarind in warm water and squeeze the pulp. Coconut gratings must be ground to a fine paste. Chop onion finely.
Heat a pan and pour oil. First add the mustard seeds and when it splutters, add fennel seeds. Then add the finely chopped onions and whole garlic. When the onions turn golden yellow, add the curry leaves and chopped tomatoes and fry for 5 minutes. Then you can add the turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder and the tamarind pulp. Add a cup of water and half a teaspoon salt and allow the curry to boil a few minutes. When the curry is boiling, add the cleaned fish pieces along with the coconut paste. After adding the fish, allow the curry to simmer for a few minutes.
Tips: Unlike meat, fish takes only a few minutes to cook. For fish curry, even the fish heads can be used.
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Dawn
Feb 12th, 2009
Fish columbu really seems to be yummy. Will try your preparation.
Geetha
Dec 6th, 2009
Very interesting to see tamil receipes. I wish to see more traditional receipes from tamil nadu. Please do add more receipes.
Uma
Dec 6th, 2009
yes, you can see more in future.
uma
Rachna
Mar 4th, 2010
Hello,
I tried this recipe, it came out so well..Yummy!
Uma
Mar 4th, 2010
Oh, thanks.!
Anitha
Sep 2nd, 2010
I know many traditional tamilnadu recipes.. especially chettinad kind. I don’t have a blog on my own and don’t have time either to create one. Can I post them in your website?
Anitha
Sep 2nd, 2010
I feel it is better to add coconut paste first and after it boils and gives away the raw flavour, we should add fish, completely simmering the flame. finally add powder of dry roasted methi n mustard, after switching off the flame along with fresh corriander leaves. Try this and your fish curry will be the best! I Bet!