Ruths Iraqi Fish Curry Recipes

FISH CURRY

Steps:

• In a grinder grind the onions, ginger, 2 bay leaves, red chili, mustard seeds, cumin seed all together.
• Preserve some cut pieces 1 cup) of onion.
• Cut small pieces of tomatoes.
• Make small pieces of fish fillets, about 3 inches in length.
• Clean them properly if you are using the whole fish and make it into small pieces.
• Take a big plate, put the fish in it and sprinkle 2 teaspoon of salt, two teaspoon of turmeric powder and the garlic paste.
• Mix all of them properly.
• Allow to marinate for 1/2 hour.
• Take a pan or a wok (preferable), heat it and put oil to deep fry the fish.
• Once the oil is much hotter, fry the fish, 3-4 pieces at a time, 3-4 minutes on each side.
• Keep all of them in a separate plate.
• When all the pieces are fried, clean all the black residues from the oil in the wok with the spatula and put 2 tablespoon of fresh oil in the it.
• Then put a pinch of cumin seed, a pinch of mustard seed, 2 red chili, 2 bay leaves, a pinch of aniseed (all together is called panch-phoran) and allow them to splutter.
• Then put the cut onion pieces and allow it to just a little brown.
• Then put all the ground paste,tomatoes,left over turmeric powder and salt to taste.
• Keep stirring it until the paste becomes a little brown (it takes around 10 minutes).
• You can also identify it by looking at the wok, that the paste will start leaving the oil and paste will now no more stick on the wok.
• The paste is now perfectly fried.
• Now pour 3 cups of water to it, or as much thick gravy you want.
• Once the gravy comes to boil, start dropping the fried fish pieces and allow to boil for 15 minutes.
• Switch off the gas.
• Use coriander leaf for garnishing.
• This dish should be served with fresh steamed rice and squeeze some lime some juice on top.

FISH CURRY - NEIL PERRY

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a small frying pan, add onion, ginger, garlic and salt and sweat over low-medium heat for 10 - 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until onion is soft and starting to caramelize.
• Add spices and cook, stirring constantly for 1-2 minutes or until aromatic.
• Add stock or water and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Add fish to pan and stir gently to cover fish with sauce and simmer for 2 minutes.
• Add yoghurt and lime juice, remove from heat and stir gently.
• Serve with steamed rice.

PAKISTANI FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Heat oil in a pot.
• Add onions and saute until brown.
• Grind the onions.
• Put the ground onions in a large mixing bowl.
• Add yoghurt to the ground onions.
• Add fish pieces to this, mix well and marinate the fish in this mixture for 2 hours.
• In the same oil which was used to saute the onions, add the methi seeds.
• Allow to sizzle a bit, then remove them once they turn brown.
• Add ginger-garlic paste to the same oil.
• Saute until the raw smell is gone.
• Add red chilli and turmeric powders.
• Mix well and continue to stir-fry for a few minutes.
• Add the marinated fish pieces.
• Add half a glass of water and mix well.
• Keep on low flame for 10 minutes.
• Garnish with corriander leaves.
• Serve hot with chappatis.

TUNA FISH CURRY

Steps:

• thinly slice the onion,red and green peppers,discarding tht seeds from the pepper.
• heat the oil in a karahi or wok and stirfry the cumin seeds for 2-3 minutes until they begin to spit and splutter.
• add the ground cumin,coriander,chilli powder and salt and cook for 2-3 minutes.then add the garlic,onion and pepper.
• fry the vegetables,stirring from time to time,for 5-7 minutes until the onion has light browned.
• stir in the tuna,green chillies and ginger and cook for 5 minutes.
• add the garam masala and lime juice and cook the curry for further 3-4 minutes.
• serve warm with split pitta bread with cucumber raita.

MACKEREL FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Clean the fish well and wash in plenty of water.
• Cut the fish in approximately 1 1/2 inch sized pieces.
• Wash well with salt water and turmeric powder.
• Marinate it with turmeric powder and lemon juice for 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a skillet.
• Add all the ingredients except the fish.
• Add 1/2 cup of water.
• Allow to come to a boil.
• Lower flame and add the fish pieces.
• Cover and cook till the fish is tender and ready to serve.
• Serve hot with hot steamed white rice.