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Mauritian fish curry
Cari poisson: fried fish in a tomato curry sauce with curry leaves and thyme
Cari poisson is cooked in Mauritian homes from Port Louis to the fishing villages of Mahébourg, a curry where Indian spice meets Creole herbs: pieces of firm fish are first fried, then simmered in a sauce of tomato, onion, curry powder, curry leaves and thyme. It is eaten with rice, lentils (dholl) and a spoon of chilli pickle. The mistake is putting raw fish into the sauce, which makes it fall apart; frying it first keeps it firm. Chef's tip: toast the curry powder in oil until it smells nutty before the tomatoes go in.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb firm fish steakstuna, kingfish or snapper
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- 5 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionchopped
- 4 garlic clovescrushed
- ½ oz fresh gingergrated
- 10 curry leaves
- 4 tomatoeschopped
- 1 green chillislit
- 1 cup water
- 3 tbsp chopped coriander
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Rub 1 ½ lb firm fish steaks with ½ tsp ground turmeric and ⅝ tsp salt. Heat 3 tablespoons of 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the fish for 2 minutes a side, just to seal. Set aside.
5 minStep 2: In a wide pan heat the rest of 2 tbsp vegetable oil. Fry 1 onion for 5 minutes, add 4 garlic cloves, ½ oz fresh ginger and 10 curry leaves for 1 minute.
6 minStep 3: Mix 2 tbsp Mauritian or Madras curry powder with 3 tablespoons of water and add it to the pan. Fry for 2 minutes, stirring, until the oil separates.
2 minStep 4: Add 4 tomatoes, 3 thyme sprigs, 1 green chilli and the rest of ⅝ tsp salt and cook for 8 minutes until pulpy. Add 1 cup water and simmer for 5 minutes.
13 minStep 5: Slide in the fish and simmer gently for 6–8 minutes, shaking the pan, until it is opaque all the way through and flakes easily.
8 minStep 6: Scatter with 3 tbsp chopped coriander and serve with rice. Eat within 1 day.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mauritian fish curry take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of ground turmeric?
- Leave it out (it mostly adds colour).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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