This dish is from the coastal region of Goa, well-known for its fish and seafood dishes. Goan fish curry is hot and tangy. and is known locally as xiti codi, or caril de piexe. The recipe has travelled the world and is usually what people think of when they think of fish curry.
This is our family recipe and it is surprisingly easy to prepare. All you do is prepare the masala, then quickly poach the fish in it. This suits entertaining, as there is little attention needed once you have made the masala, which is far from fussy to prepare.
You must use a strongly flavoured fish as it needs to compete with the chillies. Ling, cod or Spanish mackerel could be used instead of kingfish. The original dish uses pomfret, which is almost unobtainable fresh unless you are in India.
In typical Goan style, the dish doesn’t taste that hot at first. It has some initial bite from the fresh red chillies, but it is only when you are partway through the meal and your hair is plastered to your forehead, do you realise you have eaten something hot. This is partly due to the effect of the Kashmiri chillies but is also due to the manner in which they are prepared and cooked into the dish in the early stages. Note that soaking the chillies in the vinegar helps bring out their bright colour when ground.
Some people believe this is better the next day, after which the flavours will have developed further. We don’t agree, because it allows the spices to overpower the fish. Further, because you will need to refrigerate, then reheat the dish, it is difficult to keep the fish in the just-cooked state. You will end up with fish that has broken up and flaked. This is best served straight from the pan.
Serve this with sanna, which are like idli, or plain rice. You should also have raita to help cool the palate.
the recipe
equipment
- wide pan with lid
ingredients
- 800 g kingfish fillets - cut into 5cm cubes
for the masala
- 8 dried Kashmiri chillies
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds - toasted
- 10 black peppercorns
- 10 cloves garlic
- ½ cup water
to cook
- 1 red onion - halved and finely sliced
- 150 ml tamarind water
- 2 red chillies - finely sliced
- ½ tsp salt
- 200 ml thick coconut milk
to serve
- ½ cup coriander leaves
instructions
- Place the Kashmiri chillies in a small glass bowl with the vinegar and two tablespoons of water and allow to soak for 15 minutes.
- Place the soaked chillies, turmeric, toasted coriander seeds, peppercorns, garlic, ½ cup of water into a blender and process to a fine paste.
- Place the masala paste in a pan, with one cup of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, add the finely sliced onions and mix well. Simmer for five minutes, or until the onions soften, stirring frequently.
- Add the tamarind water and reduce the heat. Simmer, stirring frequently for two minutes.
- Add the salt and the sliced chillies. Cook for two minutes, stirring frequently until the chillies release their aroma and the sauce thickens slightly. Be careful not to overcook the sauce
- Add the coconut milk, mix well, and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Add the fish in a single layer into the sauce. Spoon sauce over the top of the fish, cover the pan and simmer for five to ten minutes, or until the fish is just cooked. Do not stir the fish, but spoon sauce over the fish.
to serve
- When cooked, remove from heat, arrange fish pieces in a bowl, and pour some sauce over. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve.
notes
- Soaking the chillies in vinegar will bring out their bright colour.
- Ling, cod or Spanish mackerel can be used instead of kingfish. The original dish uses pomfret, which is almost unobtainable fresh, unless you are in India.
private notes
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Keith, this recipe has great appeal too, Sous Vide to the front of the testing regime. Robots do not rule OK…
Mark – if I was do this recipe sous vide there are a few things I would consider. If you just place everything together in a pouch and cook, you might be over-powered by raw onion and spices.
I would think about cooking to step 6, to allow the ingredients to develop, then place the fish and masala into a pouch, to then cook in the water bath. I would use a very low heat, 49C, to ensure the fish is Just cooked.
Let me know how you get on?