Tilapia Curry

Tilapia is one of the few fishes we eat. I used two medium sized tilapias to make two different dishes, tilapia pulusu (fish in tamarind sauce) and tilapia curry, with a little variation. As you can see in the pictures I used the thick steak like pieces for the pulusu and thin flat pieces for the curry.

Tilapia is simmered in a fine blend of spices, onion and ginger garlic paste along with tamarind sauce for the delicious, spicy and tangy pulusu. Tilapia is cooked in ginger, garlic and onion paste along with spices for the delectable curry.

Tilapia Pulusu

Ingredients
8 – 10 good size fresh tilapia pieces
1 large onion blended
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
2 tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
½ tsp turmeric
2 tbsp oil
Walnut sized tamarind
Salt to taste

Garam Masala
6 cloves
1 inch cinnamon
1 tsp poppy seeds
1 cardamom
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp coriander seeds

Tampering
1 red chili broken
½ tsp mustard
½ tsp cumin
¼ tsp fenugreek
Spring of curry leaves

Blend the ingredients under garam masala into a fine powder.

Soak tamarind in ¼ cup of warm water.

Heat oil in a wide pan. Add tampering, when mustard starts to pop, add onion ginger and garlic paste. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes.

Add chili powder, turmeric, salt and the garam masala powder. Sauté for couple more minutes on medium heat. Place tilapia pieces next to each other and let them simmer for two minutes. Gently flip each piece and let simmer for two more minutes.

Squeeze about 1 to 1 ½ cups of juice from the soaked tamarind.

Add tamarind juice to the pan. Let it cook for 5 minutes on medium.

Leave it to simmer on low flame for another 15 - 20 minutes.

A mouthwatering tilapia pulusu is ready.



Tilapia curry

Ingredients
1 lb Tilapia pieces
1 large onion blended
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 ½ tsp red chili powder (adjust to taste)
¼ tsp turmeric
2 tbsp oil
Salt to taste

Garam Masala
6 cloves
1 inch cinnamon
1 tsp poppy seeds
1 cardamom
1 tsp cumin seeds
2 tbsp coriander seeds

Tampering
1 red chili broken
½ tsp mustard
½ tsp cumin
Spring of curry leaves


Blend the ingredients under garam masala into a fine powder.

Heat oil in a wide pan. Add tampering, when mustard starts to pop, add onion ginger and garlic paste. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes.

Add chili powder, turmeric, salt and the garam masala powder. Sauté for couple more minutes on medium heat. Place tilapia pieces next to each other and let them simmer for two minutes. Gently flip each piece and let simmer for two more minutes.

If there is enough moisture from the fish let it simmer on low flame for 15 to 20 minutes. Or add ¼ cup of water and let it simmer.

Tilapia curry tastes heavenly when eaten with hot rice.

Tips: Garam Masala can be replaced with ½ to 1 tsp of pre-made masala powder.