South African / Durban Style Fish Curry

The South African or Durban fish curry is a popular dish where the thick pieces of fresh fish are slowly cooked in a spicy and tangy gravy.  Hake fish, baracuda fish, kinglip or shad is often the favorite among the South African Indian community. Here is recipe for you all to try.

Ingredients

• Fresh Fish (Hake / Kinglip) 1 kg, medium thick slices
• Cumin Seeds 1 tbsp
• Mustard Seeds 1 tsp
• Garlic 4 Cloves, chopped
• Ginger 1 medium size, chopped
• Red Chilli Powder 1 1/2 tsp
• Kashmiri Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp
• Coriander Powder 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp
• Green Chili 2 nos, slited
• Onion 2 medium size, chopped 
• Curry Leaves 2 sprigs
• Tomatoes 2 medium, chopped
• Cherry Tomatoes 3 nos, cut into half
• Tomatoe Puree 4 to 5 tbsp
• Tamerind Paste 2 tsp
• Sugar 1/4 tsp
• Salt
• Oil

Method

Clean and rinse fish in water well, drain water and  marinate fish pieces with little salt and turmeric powder. Keep it aside.

Dry fry cumin and mustard seeds in pan for a few minutes. Remove from heat and grind to form a powder. Keep it aside .

In a large sauce pan heat oil in medium flame and fry sliced onions and 2 sprigs of curry leaves for 2 minutes. After a few minutes the onions will be turning slight brown and transparent. In this stage add red chili power, kashmiri chili powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Add the ground cumin and mustard powder and fry for a few seconds. Now add in the chopped garlic and ginger and saute well. Now add the sliced tomatoes and salt fry well. Now add tomato puree and simmer the masala now. Please take care the tomatoes should be completely melted. Now add the marinated fish pieces. Do not stir the curry as the fish will break. Allow the curry to cook on a medium low flame for 25 to 30 minutes. Stir the curry by gently shaking the pot ensuring that the fish is well coated with the gravy. Now add the tamarind pulp and continue to cook for 2 minutes. Then check the flavoures and salt, if needed anything you can add accordingly. Add few curry leaves and mix well. Put off flame and remove curry and serve with warm rice or roti. 

NB: You can use king fish or pamphret for this recipe. Im sure you all will like this curry. enjoy cooking.