An image of a plate of Fish Curry with Tamarind, toasted spices, garlic and crushed ginger

Fish Curry with Tamarind

Fish Curry with Tamarind brings together tender fish, tomato, garlic, toasted spices and tangy tamarind. This easy fish curry is full of bold flavour and pairs beautifully with steamed rice or bread.

This Fish Curry with Tamarind gets its punch from tamarind, green chili, garlic and toasted whole spices. The fish stays tender while the sauce carries all that flavour.

Fish Curry with Tamarind

Why You Will Love and Enjoy This Fish Curry with Tamarind

  • That tamarind and tomato combination: It’s tangy, savoury and just a little fiery, with a sauce that begs for rice.
  • The toasted spices: Fennel, cumin, mustard seeds and black pepper give the curry much more depth than simply adding ground spices.
  • The big garlic flavour: Whole garlic cloves soften right into the sauce while the crushed ginger and garlic build the base.
  • The fish stays tender: Adding it after the sauce has cooked down means you’re not simmering the fish for half the recipe.
  • It’s easy to adjust: More tamarind for tang, more chili for heat or a little extra salt to bring everything together.
An image of a plate of Fish Curry with Tamarind, toasted spices, garlic and crushed ginger
Fish Curry with Tamarind, Tomato and Green Chili

Additional Information

  • Can this be frozen? Yes. Let the curry cool completely, then portion it into airtight freezer-safe containers. The fish may soften slightly after freezing and thawing, but the curry will still be very good.
  • For the best texture, freeze the curry for up to 2 months and thaw it overnight in the refrigerator.
  • How long can it be stored and how? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently over low to medium heat until piping hot, taking care not to stir the fish too much.
  • Can I use a different fish? Definitely. Salmon, cod, haddock, halibut and other firm fish all work well. Choose pieces that are thick enough to hold together during simmering.
  • Can I use less tamarind? Yes. Start with 3 tbsp tamarind paste if you prefer a milder tang. If the curry tastes a little too sharp, balance it with a touch more tomato purée or a small amount of water and adjust the salt.
  • Can I make it less spicy? Yes. Reduce the 5 green chilies and use less than 1 tbsp Kashmiri chili powder. Kashmiri chili powder adds colour as well as heat, so reducing it will make the curry less vibrant too.
  • What can I use instead of Kashmiri chili powder? Use regular chili powder if that’s what you have, but start with less because the heat level can be quite different. You can also use a combination of sweet paprika and a smaller amount of regular chili powder for colour and controlled heat.
  • What can I use instead of dhania/jeera powder? Use 1 tsp ground coriander and cumin, or simply use whichever of the two you have available and adjust to taste.
  • Can I leave out the fenugreek powder? Yes. The curry will still work without it, although you’ll lose some of that slightly bitter, earthy flavour. If you have dried fenugreek leaves, a small pinch can be used instead.
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An image of a plate of Fish Curry with Tamarind, toasted spices, garlic and crushed ginger

Fish Curry with Tamarind

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  • Author: EsmeSalon
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 8–10 depending on size 1x
  • Category: Dinner Recipes
  • Method: Easy Cooking

Description

A bold, tangy fish curry with toasted whole spices, plenty of garlic, juicy tomatoes and a good hit of tamarind. The sauce cooks down thick and rich, then the fish goes in right at the end so it stays tender instead of falling apart.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 tbsp oil
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 10 curry leaves
  • 2 tbsp crushed ginger and garlic
  • 10 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 5 green chilies, sliced
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp Kashmiri chili powder, plus more to taste
  • 1 tsp dhania/jeera powder
  • 1/2 tsp fenugreek powder
  • 14.5 oz – 1 x 410 g can chopped tomatoes
  • 14.5 oz – 1 x 410 g can tomato purée
  • 3 to 4 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste
  • 4.4 lb – 2 kg fish, such as salmon, cut into large pieces

Instructions

  1. Heat 4 tbsp oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat.
  2. Add 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp black peppercorns, 2 tsp mustard seeds and 2 tsp cumin seeds. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes, stirring, until the spices smell fragrant and the mustard seeds start popping. Don’t let them burn.
  3. Add 2 tbsp crushed ginger and garlic, 1 large finely chopped onion and 10 whole peeled garlic cloves.
  4. Cook over medium heat for about 6 to 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until the onion is soft and starting to turn golden.
  5. Lower the heat and stir in 1 tsp turmeric, 1 tbsp Kashmiri chili powder, 1 tsp dhania/jeera powder and 1/2 tsp fenugreek powder.
  6. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. If the spices look dry or start catching, add a small splash of water.
  7. in 5 sliced green chilies, 10 curry leaves, 1 x 410 g can chopped tomatoes and 1 x 410 g can tomato purée. Add 1 1/2 tsp salt and stir well.
  8. Let the tomato mixture simmer uncovered over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and the oil starts to show around the edges. You want a thick, cooked-down curry base before adding the tamarind and fish.
  9. Mix 3 to 4 tbsp tamarind paste with 1 cup water, then pour it into the pot. Stir gently and bring the curry to a steady simmer. Cook for another 8 to 10 minutes so the tamarind has time to mellow into the tomato sauce. Taste here and adjust the salt, chili powder or tamarind before adding the fish.
  10. Gently place 2 kg cut fish into the simmering sauce, spacing the pieces out as much as you can.
  11. Spoon a little sauce over the top, cover the pot and simmer gently for about 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. Try not to stir with a spoon once the fish is in. Instead, gently shake the pot from side to side so the pieces stay intact.

Notes

Prepared, tried, and tested by Irene

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This Fish Curry gets its bold flavour from garlic, green chili and tangy tamarind. The thick tomato sauce makes this one worth serving with plenty of rice.

An image of a plate of Fish Curry with Tamarind, toasted spices, garlic and crushed ginger
Fish Curry with Tamarind for a Bold Weeknight Dinner

Fish Curry with Tamarind delivers tender fish in a thick tomato sauce flavoured with toasted spices, garlic, green chili and tangy tamarind. The sauce is rich without being heavy; the fish cooks gently at the end, and every spoonful has enough heat and acidity to keep dinner interesting. It’s the kind of curry that makes a simple bowl of rice feel like exactly the right thing to serve with it.

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5 thoughts on “Fish Curry with Tamarind”

      1. cookandenjoyrecipes

        Sharing is Caring, that’s my motto. Glad you like what I have to offer.
        I do not find a follow on your site qnd also noticed that you share to different sites.

        1. OIKOS™-Redaktion

          Oh, sorry we will try to install a following button. Maybe you will see bottom on the right side, by scrolling down the site? 😉

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