How long does Karuvadu Thokku take?

30 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking.

How many people does Karuvadu Thokku serve?

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

Is Karuvadu Thokku 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 Karuvadu Thokku?

150 grams Dried Fish, 10 Garlic, 1½ cup Small Onion (Shallots), 1 Green Chilli, 2 Tomato, 2 tbsp Gingelly Oil, and a few more listed on this page.

Do I need a pressure cooker for Karuvadu Thokku?

No, it is cooked in an open pot.

How many calories are in Karuvadu Thokku?

About 364 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Karuvadu ThokkuCook

Karuvadu Thokku

Name: Karuvadu Thokku
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Indian, Tamil Nadu
Ingredients: 1 inch Ginger; 10 Garlic; 150 grams Dried Fish; For Soaking Hot Water; 2 tbsp Gingelly Oil; 1 tsp Mustard Seeds; 1 Green Chilli, Slit; 1½ cup Small Onion (Shallots); 1 sprigs Curry leaves; 1½ tbsp Red Chilli Powder; ½ tsp Turmeric Powder; 2 tsp Coriander Powder; ½ tsp Garam Masala Powder; 2 Tomato, Finely Chopped; 3/4 cup Water; 1½ tsp Salt; 1 tsp Lemon Juice; 2 tsp Jaggery; 1 tsp Black Pepper Powder; 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves, Finely Chopped

30 min
medium
Serves 3
13 people cooked this

Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min

Start cooking

5 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 Thokku · Non-veg · Curries & Gravies, Kuzhambu, Sambar & Rasam

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

Karuvadu thokku, Tamil Nadu dried fish cooked in gingelly oil with ginger garlic, shallots and tomato. Medium-spicy, serves 3, 30 minutes, step-by-step video.

High proteinLow calorie

Ingredients

20 items

3 people

Ginger1 inch
Garlic10
Dried Fish150 grams
Hot WaterFor Soaking
Gingelly Oil2 tbsp
Mustard Seeds1 tsp
Green Chilli, Slit1
Small Onion (Shallots)1½ cup
Curry leaves1 sprigs
Red Chilli Powder1½ tbsp
Turmeric Powder½ tsp
Coriander Powder2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder½ tsp
Tomato, Finely Chopped2
Water3/4 cup
Salt1½ tsp
Lemon Juice1 tsp
Jaggery2 tsp
Black Pepper Powder1 tsp
Coriander Leaves, Finely 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	364kcal	1092kcal
Protein	36g	107g
Carbohydrate	27g	81g
Fat	13g	39g
Fibre	5.8g	17g
Sugar	12g	35g

Cookd masalas for dried fish

Method

1
Add and Pound the ginger and garlic thoroughly
GingerGarlic
2
Wash and soak the dried fish in hot water for at least 10 minutes.
Dried FishHot Water
3
In a pan heat oil, add the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add the pound ginger and garlic and cook for a minute. Add the shallots and continue to cook on a moderate flame until translucent. Add the curry leaves. Add Red Chilli powder, Turmeric powder and Coriander powder and garam masala powder.
Gingelly OilMustard SeedsGreen ChilliSmall Onion (Shallots)Curry leavesRed Chilli PowderTurmeric PowderCoriander PowderGaram Masala Powder
4
Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until it's mushy. Add the dried fish and cook for 2 minutes. Add water, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
TomatoWaterSalt
5
Add lemon juice, jaggery and black pepper powder. Add coriander leaves and remove from the heat.
Lemon JuiceJaggeryBlack Pepper PowderCoriander Leaves

Before you start

How long does Karuvadu Thokku take?: 30 minutes from start to finish. That is 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking.
How many people does Karuvadu Thokku serve?: 3. The ingredient quantities on this page rescale if you are cooking for a different number.
Is Karuvadu Thokku vegetarian?: No, it contains meat or fish.
Is Karuvadu Thokku 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 Karuvadu Thokku?: 150 grams Dried Fish, 10 Garlic, 1½ cup Small Onion (Shallots), 1 Green Chilli, 2 Tomato, 2 tbsp Gingelly Oil, and a few more listed on this page.
Do I need a pressure cooker for Karuvadu Thokku?: No, it is cooked in an open pot.
How many calories are in Karuvadu Thokku?: About 364 a serving. The full nutrition table is on this page, per serving and for the whole batch.

Tips from other cooks

5 notes

C
A Cookd cookNovember 2023
came out really well 🎉🎉
S
Shobana KrishOctober 2023
u forgot to add salt in the instructions other than is everything is perfect
S
SukumarApril 2026
Thala..konjam Puli add panna...innum sema taste ah irukum.
BarathOctober 2024
taste ok but pouring consistency aiduchu.....
D
DhepanJanuary 2024
ahha just finished cooking and eating, thank you for the tasty and easy recipe.