Varutharacha Meen Curry / Fish in Roasted Coconut Gravy

                                                                                                    

Varutharacha meen curry and hot Ari Pathil...This is a famous Malabar combination...it's equally welcome for breakfast and dinner.

Although I am not fond of fish, I enjoy trying out different fish recipes for my hubby dear, who in fact enjoys them. Here I have used roasted coconut and this adds a special flavor to the dish...

Ingredients:
  
Black Pomfret – 4 slices of medium thickness  
Onion – 1 large- sliced
Tomato- 1 medium chopped
Green chilly – 2 chopped
Ginger garlic chopped – 1 tsp each
 Fenugreek seeds- ¼ tsp
Chilly powder – 1 tsp
Corriander powder – ½ tsp
 Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
 Curry leaves - a handful
 Oil – 2 tbsp
 Salt  – as required

For the roasted coconut paste:

1.       Grinded coconut – 4 tbsp

2.       Shallots whole – 3 / 4

3.       Fennel seeds – 1 / 2 tsp

Clean the fish and cut into 4 slices of medium thickness.

First let us prepare the coconut paste. Take a fry pan or wok. Add the grinded coconut, shallots and fennel seeds. Dry roast the coconut on low flame till it turns golden brown. Remove from flame.
Once the roasted coconut cools down grind it with little water to make a fine paste.

Now take the sauce pan and heat the oil. Add the fenugreek seeds. Sauté for a min. Add in the sliced onions, green chilly and ginger garlic. Sauté well till the onion turns golden brown. Now add in the chopped tomatoes and sauté. Next add the chilly powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Sauté well till the tomatoes get mashed up.

Add 1 1/2 cup of water. Add 1/2 tsp salt. Cover with lid and cook. Once the onion and tomatoes get really cooked, add in the fish pieces. Cover and cook on low flame till the fish gets cooked. Now add the grinded coconut paste and mix. Add curry leaves and simmer for 5 mins till the gravy gets a little thick. Remove from flame.

Serve it warm with Ari pathil / Roti… Enjoy the delicacy !!