Despite wide differences in cuisines of different parts of Kerala, one feature stands symbolic of Kerala cuisine – fish or 'meen' curry. Although in many parts of this coastal state you'll discover a variety of seafood especially prawns, mussels and more, fish curry holds the staple status in almost all regions.
The saga of tasty fish curries does not stop at just one or two recipes in Kerala. With a variety of spices and ingredients like tamarind and coconut milk, there is a lot of scope to experiment with Kerala style fish curries.
Here are 8 basic Kerala recipes that you can make easily at home without much fuss.
Basic Kerala-style fish curry
This is the most basic Kerala style fish curry that is served with rice for lunch. It is cooked in fried coconut paste will and makes your meals a real treat. Any type of fish can be prepared with this recipe - mackerel or seer.
Fish peralan or fish roast
'Peralan' basically means roast and Kerala fish roast is a perfect companion with any Indian bread like porotta, appam, chapathi and more. Loaded with spices, fish peralan is fairly easy to make.
Dry fish and mango curry
'Unakameen manga' curry aka dry fish and mango curry is a special Kerala preparation with an amalgamation of sweet and spicy ingredients. Fish cooked with spices and simmered in coconut with a mix of mango slices makes the curry flavourful. Here's the recipe of a fish curry which you can relish with rice.
Kerala-style fish stew
Fish simmered in coconut milk is a favourite for any Keralite and one can make it easily at home. Marinate the fish to perfection and cook it for a subtly spiced and flavourful curry that goes best with appams.
Tamarind-coconut fish curry
This fish curry was originally prepared at the tribal households in Wayanad. Unlike the regular fish curries, tamarind leaves are used in this for the sourness instead of tamarind.
Red fish curry
This fish curry is loaded with spices and chillies as the name would suggest. It tastes best when kept overnight after cooking. This is a speciality of Idukki districts which falls on the hilly terrain of Kerala.
Fish molee or Fish molly
A rage among seafood lovers in Kerala, the fish molee is where fish is cooked with oodles of coconut milk and subtle native spices. It was so popular a dish that it crossed borders and is also abundantly served in Malaysia and Singapore.
Meen vevichath
One of the most celebrated fish curry in Kerala is Kudampuli itta meen curry (fish curry made using cocum). If you want to stick to the most authentic version, you will be compelled to use an earthen vessel for cooking the sh. A toddy-shop favorite, the spicy red curry goes well with mashed tapioca or rice.