Chettinad style Karapodi meen kuzhambu – Pony fish

This is the first time and trying fish kuzhambu with this karapodi/pony fish. It tastes really good when we make with chettinad style. Fish kuzhambu tastes really heavenly when prepared with freshly ground masalas. Usually fish kuzhambu tastes good the next day but when you add freshly ground masalas and cook properly the masalas it tasted good the same day itself. Pony fish/silver belly fish is commonly found in Tamil Nadu and it can be identified easily by its silver color.

This fish kuzhambu can be served with idly, dosa or hot steamed rice. This is a wonderful menu for non veg guest lunch ideas. You can serve with hot steamed idly in the morning or with steamed rice with fish fry and fish kuzhambu or with rasam.

Check Karapodi meen kuzhambu recipe on youtube

Check other fish recipes

Whole fish fry

Chettinad style Karapodi meen kuzhambu - Pony fish

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 35

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Indian

Servings 5 people

Ingredients

For making masala paste

2-3 tsp oil
1 tsp cumin and 1 tsp fennel
1 tsp pepper corns
shallots and onion 200 gms
3 tsp coriander seeds
1 inch ginger chopped and garlic 5-6 cloves
5-6 red chilly
1/2 shell grated coconut

For making fish kuzhambu

3 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tsp of fenugreek
Curry Leaves / கறிவேப்பிலை
1 tsp turmeric powder
tomato paste - ground 5 tomatoes
2-3 tsp chilly powder
Tamarind juice Soaked a lemon sized tamarind
Chopped coriander leaves
1 kg Pony fish

Instructions

In a kadai add 2-3 tsp oil for roasting the masala.
Add 1 tsp cumin and 1 tsp fennel and saute well
Add 1 tsp pepper corns and mix
Add shallots and onion together around 200 gms. You can also use only shallots if you have.
Add 3 tsp coriander seeds or you can user coriander powder in the kuzhambu directly.
Add 1 inch ginger chopped and garlic 5-6 cloves peeled
Add 5-6 red chilly or as required.
Add 1/2 shell grated coconut, coconuts is completely optional. It gives nice taste, you can also add thick coconut milk directly in the kuzhambu.
Once the masalas turn nice color switch off and cool down completely by transfering it to a plate.
Add to a mixie jar and grind to smooth paste add little water if required.
Kara podi fish / Pony fish cleaned and washed 1 kg.
I used a earthern clay pot for preparing fish kuzhambu. Add 3 tsp sesame oil. sesame oil also give nice taste to the fish kuzhambu.
Add 1/4 tsp of fenugreek and curry leaves.
Now add the ground masala paste and mix well
Add 1 tsp turmeric powder and mix well
Add tomato paste - ground 5 tomatoes in mixie jar, Stir well till the raw smell goes off
After the tomatoes sauted well, Add 2-3 tsp chilly powder. Add required salt and mix well
Add enough water, Soaked a lemon sized tamarind in hot water. Add tamarind juice now to the kuzhambu.
After adding tamarind juice check for salt and spiciness. Adjust accordingly am adding a tsp of coriander powder and a tsp of chilly powder.
Check for salt and allow to boil well. Now after boiling, oil started to ooze outside
Pony fish is nice and fresh it gives nice taste to the kuzhambu
Now add cleaned fish one by one. After adding all the fish make sure the fish have enough space to cook.
Add chopped coriander leaves and switch off immediately. Let it gets cooked in the heat of the pot.
Cover and keep the fish gets cooked in the heat of the pot
The fish itself is very tasty, when you prepare in chettinad style it will be very very tasty.
Serve with idly, dosa or steamed rice. Tastes heavenly the next day. Try the recipe and comment.