Kumbalangi-style Karimeen curry

Kumbalangi in Ernakulam district is the first model tourism village in Kerala. The fish delicacies of Kumbalangi are quite famous.

Check out the recipe for Karimeen or pearl spot curry cooked in the unique Kumbalangi-style.

Ingredients

500 gms pearl spot
1 tsp turmeric powder
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt as required
For the crushed masala
½ cup shallots
12 garlic cloves
4 green chilies
1 small piece of ginger
50 ml coconut oil
1 sprig curry leaves
½ tsp turmeric powder
2 kokum
1 cup second extract of coconut milk
½ cup first extract of coconut milk

Preparation
Clean the pearl spots and score them
Marinate the fish with turmeric powder, salt and lemon juice
Keep them aside for at least half an hour
Crush the ingredients for the masala in mixer jar on a single pulse
Meanwhile, soak the kokum in half cup water
Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil in a pan
Fry the marinated pearl spot lightly on both the sides
Set them aside to be used later
In the same pan, sauté the crushed masala and curry leaves on low flame
Add turmeric powder
Pour in the kokum extract
Allow this gravy to boil
Taste for seasoning
Now add the fried pearl spots
Add the second extract of coconut milk
Mix well
When the gravy thickens, add the first extract of coconut milk
Sprinkle a table spoon of coconut oil before taking the dish off the flame
Enjoy with rice or appam.