Meen Kuzhambu (chettinad fish curry) chapala pulusu

For the past one month, I couldn’t find much time to take snaps of the items which I wanted to blog.My idea was to write next about the famous chettinad chicken but due to the fear of catching bird flue people at home are scared of even hearing its name.So till the chickens get well let me blog about the chettinad special fish items .
Meen kuzhambu prepared in chettinad will seem to be very simple and easy to prepare but the real taste will depend on the care with which it is made.But by experience one can make mouthwatering meen kuzhambu which will make your partner sing’ Nethuvecha Meenkuzhambu ennai ezhukkuthayya’(Yesterday’s fish curry is driving me to the kitchen).This kuzhambu kept outside is said to be very tasty the next day. But I have not taken that risk.If refrigerated,the taste will be fine for 2 to 3 days

Ingredients

Fish (known to be good for gravy)-1/2 kg

Small onion-20

Garlic-15 pods

Chilly powder -1 spoon or kuzhambu milagai thool-2 spoons

Coriander powder-2 tablespoons

Tomato-1

Curry leaf- little

Tamarind-gooseberry size(double the quantity you use for sambar)

First marinate the fish withChilly powder-1 teaspoon

Turmeric powder-1/2 teaspoon

Lemon juice-1 teaspoon

Salt-1 teaspoon

Keep the fish marinated for 1 to 2 hours.

Procedure
Soak the tamarind and required salt in 3 to 4 cups of water. Keep a flat bottom kadai in the stove. Pour 2 to 3 spoons of oil(gingelly oil if available will be the best).Season withFennel seeds-1 teaspoonFenugreek seeds-1/2 teaspoonCurry leaf-littleAddthe minced onion, garlic and tomato and sauté well for 3 minutes. Now add the tamarind water. Add the chilly powder and coriander powder also and wait till the mixture boils. Once it starts boiling keep the stove in sim and allow the curry to cook in low fire for 10 to 12 minutes till the gravy has reduced to half. Now slowly add the fish one by one in such a way that all the pieces stay aloof. Once the fish is added, you will find the gravy becoming watery. Increase the flame a little and cook for 5 more minutes. Always make sure that you use the gravy only 2 or 3 hours after cooking.(this time is for the fish to get the taste of the gravy) .It is always better not to transfer the contents to another vessel since the fishes are likely to break while transferring.