Fish Heads Curry with Green Masala

Fish Heads Curry with Green Masala

1 kg fish heads cleaned, chopped & washed well - wash the pcs. well under running water (tap) because of Sand – drain & keep.

Finely slice 2 big Onions; slit lengthwise 6-8 Green Chillies; a sprig of Curry leaves; 3 big Tomatoes – cut into 8 pcs each; Salt to taste; Oil – 6-8 tbspns.

For Garnish:-

Chopped Corriander leaves; Lime Juice/Vinegar 3 Tbspns.

Green Masala :- Grind to a smooth paste:-
6-8 green chillies; ½ bundle Green Corriander leaves; 1’ pc Ginger; 8-10 Garlic pods; ½ tspn Turmeric powder.

Grind Separately ¾ Coconut & keep, wash the mixie in ¼ - ½ cup water & keep - or use coconut milk sold in cans or coconut milk powder – if using the canned coconut milk divide the canned milk into 2, dilute ½ of the milk with 2 cups of water & keep. If using powder mix 3 heaped tbspns of powder with 2 glasses of water & keep, and another 4 heaped tbspns of powder in 1 glass of water for thick milk.

Heat Oil in a vessel add the sliced onions, curry leaves, green chillies, salt & fry till onions are brown, lower flame & add the green masala & continue to fry for 2-3 mins till oil comes to the surface – now add the chopped tomatoes & continue to fry till tomatoes are soft, add the coconut paste & the masala water which you washed the mixie – mix well & fry for a min. now add 2 cups of water mix well & bring to a bubble – at this stage add the fish head pcs. & mix nicely cover & allow to cook on low heat for 8-10 mins – do not use a spoon now for mixing – take the vessel & shake slowly to mix – once required thickness is obtained – remove from heat add lime juice or vinegar & once again shake the vessel – garnish with chopped coriander leaves & serve with Dosa’s/Iddlys/Rice.

If using Coconut milk powder/or canned coconut milk you have to use the diluted milk at the stage when the tomatoes are soft & proceed as per the rest of the recipe – after the 8-10 mins of cooking time for the fish heads – & the thickness obtained -then pour the thick coconut milk shake the vessel nicely – remove from heat, add the lime juice/vinegar – shake the vessel again – garnish & serve.

Pearl Subramanian