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Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Varutharacha Mathi / Sardine Curry

This is the time of the year you start getting fatty oily sardines. Oil oozing out of the oily sardine float on top of the prepared curry. Eating these oily sardines have many health benefits and tastes good too.
In this preparation, the ingredients are roasted and ground to a paste. The fish is cooked in this roasted masala and you get a rich and oily gravy once the masala is cooked with the fish.

Ingredients

About 15 - Big Sardines / Mathi, cleaned
A big lime size - Tamarind
4 to 5 sprigs - Curry leaves
Salt to taste
Coconut oil

To Roast

3/4 cup - Freshly grated coconut
6 to 8 - Dry whole red chili
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder
1.5 tbsp - Coriander powder
7 big - Shallots/ Small onion
1/8 tsp - Fenugreek seeds /Uluva
1/2 to 1 tsp - Black peppercorns
2 to 3 sprigs -Curry leaves

Method

1 ) Heat oil in pan, lower heat, add fenugreek seeds, peppercorn, dry red chili, curry leaves, small onions and fry for few seconds. Then add coconut , turmeric powder, coriander powder and roast on low heat till coconut turns brown in color. Take off the stove and cool. Transfer to a blender and grind to a smooth paste with little water.

2 ) Pour this masala into a manchatty / earthern pot. Extract tamarind juice adding enough water to the tamarind. Add tamarind extract to the pot, then add fish, salt to taste and more water if needed for the gravy. Bring to a boil, lower heat and cook covered till the fish is cooked well. Now pour little coconut oil on top of the curry, some fresh curry leaves. Take off the stove and serve hot.


Serve hot with rice, will make a delicious meal.

11 comments:

Manju said...

this does look delicious!! n that autorickshaw on the side is cute :)

Namitha said...

what I really miss here is a "manchatti" to prepare curries like this..

Pravs said...

Superchef : Thanks. My son was very eager to add his toy for a pic. I had to oblige :)

Gulmohar : Yes, manchatti makes all the difference.Try to get one when you come down to india :)

Seena said...

here everyone frowns if I say abt making sardines varutharacha curry.. :) oru kochu auto undallo, montetha..?

Sreelekha Sumesh said...

Wow..Looks very spicy and delicious..Love this curry with kappa :)

Ann said...

Pravs,a real nostalgia there..So much to cherish with that..long live the chef in you dear..

Subi said...

yum yum. I am drooling at the picture. Next will be mathi fry in coconut oil?

Unknown said...

You made me go drooling seeing the picture. Looks too inviting!

parvathy said...

hi praveena,,,,,,,,really yummy...i tried it ,,,,,,,,very good,keep posting

Unknown said...

That is a wonderful dish and easy to make :D

Ruchikoottu said...

Thanks for this excellent recipe, it came out as expected :)