As Thirutha makes a splash again, here's a recipe to relish it

Grey mullet fish, known as Thirutha in Malayalam, has been trending in Kerala recently not because the foodies started craving for it suddenly.

Thirutha hogged headlines after a mention about it loaded with political satire in Mammootty-starrer Bheeshma became the talk of the town.

Flathead grey mullets, however, is a prize catch. A fillet of grey mullet costs a whopping Rs 800 in the fish markets. Fish vendors in Kochi say it costs a bomb as the tasty fish is rarely spotted.

The ones with roe are high in demand. Here is an easy recipe of traditional grey mullet curry in tamarind sauce.

Ingredients
1 ½ kg grey mullet
1 big onion
2 pieces crushed ginger
14 garlic cloves
Curry leaves
½ - ¾ tbsp turmeric powder
1 ¾ tbsp Kashmiri chili powder
¾ tbsp chili powder
Malabar tamarind as required
½ tbsp fenugreek powder
Salt as required
Coconut oil as required

Preparation
Heat coconut oil in an earthen chatty
Saute thinly sliced onion, ginger, garlic and some curry leaves until golden in colour
Now add turmeric powder
Saute well
Add Kashmiri chili powder and regular chili powder
Saute until the raw smell of the powders is gone
Pour water as required
Into it add the Malabar tamarind
Allow the gravy to boil
Add fish pieces and salt
Add fennel powder too
Mix gently and cook with the lid on
Taste for seasoning
Add more curry leaves if required
Do not add too much water while cooking fish curry with Malabar tamarind as the sauce would be watery
Sprinkle some fresh coconut oil after the fish is cooked
Enjoy delicious grey mullet curry with hot rice.