How long does Chettinad Fish Curry take?

40 minutes from start to finish. That is 15 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking.

How many people does Chettinad Fish Curry serve?

3. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.

Is Chettinad Fish Curry spicy?

It is medium: 2 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.

What do I need to make Chettinad Fish Curry?

500 grams Fish, 1½ tbsp Tamarind, 10 Curry leaves, 1 cup Small Onion (Shallots), 3 Tomato, 3 Red Chilli, and a few more listed on this page.

Do I need a pressure cooker for Chettinad Fish Curry?

No, it is cooked in an open pot.

How many calories are in Chettinad Fish Curry?

About 649 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Chettinad Fish CurryCook

Chettinad Fish Curry

Name: Chettinad Fish Curry
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Indian, Chettinadu
Ingredients: 500 grams Fish; ½ tbsp Lemon Juice; ¼ tsp Salt; ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder; 2 tbsp Gingelly Oil; 1 cup Small Onion (Shallots); 6 cloves Garlic; 3 Tomato, Roughly Chopped; 10 Curry leaves; 5 tsp Red Chilli Powder; 2 tbsp Coriander Powder; ½ tsp Turmeric Powder; ½ tsp Salt; 1 tsp Black Peppercorns; 1 tsp Cumin; 6 tbsp Coconut (Grated); 1½ tbsp Tamarind; 1 cup Water; ¼ cup Gingelly Oil; ½ tsp Mustard Seeds; ¼ tsp Fenugreek Seeds; 15 Curry leaves; 3 Red Chilli; ¼ cup Small Onion (Shallots), Chopped; ½ inch Ginger, Thinly Sliced; 4 cloves Garlic, Thinly Sliced; 1 tsp Salt; 3 cup Water; 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves, Chopped

40 min
medium
Serves 3
100% liked
24 people cooked this

Prep 15 min · Cook 25 min

Start cooking

10 steps, each one filmed. A short video for every step, so your hands never have to leave the pan.

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Also known as Chettinad Meen Kuzhambu, Chettinad Fish Gravy, South Indian Fish Curry · Non-veg · Curries & Gravies, Kuzhambu, Sambar & Rasam

Curries & Gravies Kuzhambu, Sambar & Rasam High protein Gluten-free Dairy-free

Chettinad fish curry, or meen kuzhambu: fish in a ground masala of shallots, tomato, pepper, coconut and tamarind. Medium-spicy, serves 3, 40 min, video.

High protein

Good for: Rainy Day

Ingredients

24 items

3 people

Fish500 grams
Lemon Juice½ tbsp
Salt1¾ tsp
Turmeric Powder¾ tsp
Gingelly Oil2 tbsp
Small Onion (Shallots)1 cup
Garlic6 cloves
Tomato, Roughly Chopped3
Curry leaves25
Red Chilli Powder5 tsp
Coriander Powder2 tbsp
Black Peppercorns1 tsp
Cumin1 tsp
Coconut (Grated)6 tbsp
Tamarind1½ tbsp
Water4 cup
Gingelly Oil¼ cup
Mustard Seeds½ tsp
Fenugreek Seeds¼ tsp
Red Chilli3
Small Onion (Shallots), Chopped¼ cup
Ginger, Thinly Sliced½ inch
Garlic, Thinly Sliced4 cloves
Coriander Leaves, Chopped2 tbsp

Contains: fish, sesame.

Nutrition

Per 1 person, and for all 3 people. Worked out from the ingredients, so treat it as a close guide.

Nutrient	Per 1 person	All 3 people
Energy	649kcal	1947kcal
Protein	43g	128g
Carbohydrate	32g	96g
Fat	42g	125g
Fibre	9.9g	30g
Sugar	12g	37g

Cookd masalas for fish

Method

1
Wash and Clean the fish pieces with lemon juice, salt and turmeric powder.
FishLemon JuiceSaltTurmeric Powder
2
In a pan, heat Gingelly oil, add the Shallots and Garlic. Saute until the shallots turn translucent.
Gingelly OilSmall Onion (Shallots)Garlic
3
Add chopped tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes are mushy. Add the curry leaves. Add red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Cook for 2 mins.
TomatoCurry leavesRed Chilli PowderCoriander PowderTurmeric PowderSalt
4
Add the black peppercorns, cumin seeds and mix well. Add the grated coconut and continue to saute for 2 mins.
Black PeppercornsCuminCoconut (Grated)
5
Add the tamarind and saute for a minute. Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
Tamarind
6
Transfer it to a mixer grinder jar. Add 1 Cup of water and grind it into a smooth paste.
Water
7
In another Kadai, heat Gingelly oil. Add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and allow the spices to splutter. Add the curry leaves, dried red chilli, chopped shallots, sliced ginger and garlic cloves. Add ½ tsp of salt and saute until the onions turn golden brown.
Gingelly OilMustard SeedsFenugreek SeedsCurry leavesRed ChilliSmall Onion (Shallots)GingerGarlicSalt
8
Add the ground masala paste, 3 cups of water and simmer for 15 mins or until the oil separates from the curry.
Water
9
Add the fish pieces and cook for 5 mins or until the fish is cooked.
10
Add chopped coriander leaves and remove them from the heat. Serve hot with steamed rice.
Coriander Leaves

Before you start

How long does Chettinad Fish Curry take?: 40 minutes from start to finish. That is 15 minutes of preparation and 25 minutes of cooking.
How many people does Chettinad Fish Curry serve?: 3. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
Is Chettinad Fish Curry vegetarian?: No, it contains meat or fish.
Is Chettinad Fish Curry spicy?: It is medium: 2 on our scale of 3. Chilli scales gently when you change the servings, so doubling the recipe does not double the heat.
What do I need to make Chettinad Fish Curry?: 500 grams Fish, 1½ tbsp Tamarind, 10 Curry leaves, 1 cup Small Onion (Shallots), 3 Tomato, 3 Red Chilli, and a few more listed on this page.
Do I need a pressure cooker for Chettinad Fish Curry?: No, it is cooked in an open pot.
How many calories are in Chettinad Fish Curry?: About 649 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Tips from other cooks

Read every tip →

V
vinodhini rajeshDecember 2021
it comes welll my husband love it thanks for the recipe it’s help soooo much for cooking one doubt if small onion not available can I use big one 🥰🥰🥰post more ❤️❤️❤️❤️
V
vallimayilSeptember 2025
i have a doubt that we can add coriander leaves in fish curry?
A
abishaOctober 2024
taste was so good 👍🏻 I am following your method s and only cook 😁 thank you ❤️
M
MaliniAugust 2024
🤌🏻❤️
C
A Cookd cookAugust 2024
It was very tasty. Yummy 😋
C
A Cookd cookMarch 2024
it’s awesome
W
Walter WhiteJune 2022
excellent recipe!! I loved it after cooking it.
A
ArshJanuary 2022
My family loved it. Works best with fleshy fish. It is super easy to make and the step by step tutorial is really helpful.