Fish Molee
- 26
- March
- 2009
Fish Molee:
Kerala Fish Stew. Fish in Coconut Sauce. Meen Thengai-Paal Kuzhambu. Fish Moli.
This fish was caught by AK’s friend Davi Doss from his home pond, at Water Valley, Mississippi. Although went for fishing couple of times with my cooking class crew, it really didnt budge any luck to me…only thing I wasted my time sitting under the sun! When I said, living in Mississippi and living in ‘The Lakes’ subdivision with more than 7 lakes around me…but never tried ‘Cat Fish’…people gave me a ‘Weird Look’!! Guess, need to really learn some proper fishing from Davy!
When I went on a vacation to Taj, Kumarakom, Kerala…I liked my stay there! Kumarakom is a group of islands on Vembanad lake. Kumarakom is a nice place for vacation, the stretches and stretches of backwaters, mangroves, on one side & a thick green lush, coconut trees on the other. The boat house, Conoe rides, ayurvedic clinics, bird watching, sun set view…lot of recreational activities!!
Anyways…I tasted Vegetable stew and Fish Molee for the first time there! I have already posted Veg-Stew! So this is a long time due for me. Though I have posted Kerala Fish Stew already, it was kind of totally different from today’s one. As the previous one has rich curry color & infused with ‘kodam puli’(special tamarind from Kerala & South Tamil Nadu).
Well…coming back to the today’s recipe! Fish was slightly fried and then immersed in coconut stew! It gives little crunch on the outer and the flesh is infused with spices and coconut flavour. In fact, I like the color, though I didn’t add any turmeric…the whitish cream sauce gives out rich yellow oil! The peppercorns and cardamom are responsible for this unique color! Great!
Ingredients:
Cat Fish 1 large
Salt
Pepper
Lemon juice
Coconut oil for frying.
For Sauce:
Scallion 1 sliced
Ginfer 2″ julienned
Garlic 6 julienned
Green chilies 3 julienned
Tomatoes 1 large – cut in wedges
Salt
Thick Coconut milk 2-4 cups
Peppercorns 1/4 spoon
Cardamom pods 6 crushed
Cinnamon stick 1
Cloves 3-5
Fennel seeds 1/4 spoon
Star anise 1
Curry leaves
Cilantro leaves to garnish
Coconut oil few spoons.
Method:
Marinate fish with salt, pepper and lemon juice.
Bring oil in shallow frying pan. Fish the fish to give a nice crunch to the skin, set aside.
In a deep wok, heat oil. Add all the spices. Then followed by chilies, ginger, garlic and scaliion. Fry real good.
Then add tomatoes…do not wilt them, try to retain its shape. Then add coconut milk to it.
Bring them to sauce consistency. Now add fish fillets and continue cooking, maybe till the fish is done.
Then garnish with cilantro or fried curry leaves. Enjoy with appam, iddiyaappam, rice or barotta.
i want to try this malar………i love the color and coconut flavour
Malar,thats my fav too yaa..looks real yummy..oh,so you been to kumarakam..I have been too..you would have enjoyed lots of seafood preparations there..na ? Good luck in fishing nex time..ha ha
Freshly caught Fish must taste wonderful. Gravy looks yum, love Molee sauce!
Lovely curry,i love kerala few stew
Nice yellow color!.I have tasted fish curry with kodam puli from one of my friend. Actually she cooked in mud pot.Taste was totally different and yummy.
May be you should try Fevicol stick for ‘fishing’.hahahaha……
It should be heaven with lots of lakes around you.
lovely fish molee
interesting u left the fish head in!
fish recipe ….i love them like anything …yummy
I was mouthwatering while i was reading the description of the sauce, hummm, I love adding coconut milk to fish sauces, adds richness and the flavor, hmmm, the color is so lovely and the addition of cardamoms and pepper to the sauce is unique; This is my curry for the next time I cook fish. I’d love that with some hot idlis; delicious!
wow, nice one Malar! Love kerala type fish curries.. and yours looks lovely… Can i try this with pomphret?
nice color without turmeric..thats great..i never been too kerala
Curry looks super yumm malar!!
wow my mouths watering now….stew with fish looks delcious..I am ready to attack
…
Oh..am missing kerala soo much..sobs..:(
This is ma fav,last time I had it was for our wedding reception..matches divine with Appam..:)
Delicious FIsh stew, had this once we went to Tour in Kerala i have fallen in love completely, this dish makes me hungry..yummy dish!
Fish in coconut gravy should taste great…nice post..
You know my love for fish curry right? So you know that I am going to make this right?
I’m so excited. Will let you know when I try it.
That looks yumm..Bookmarked. Will prepare this for my husband.
Oooh very different with thick coconut gravy..!
bookmarked, my fav. looks awesome.
Ah, maybe I should go buy some fish… makes me want some after seeing this post!
Fish curry seems so lovely dear. Glad to read abt ur appreciation for nature.
Looks nice..I haven’t started cooking non-veg yet
Looks yummy and lovely color.
Hi Malar,
I just wanted you to know that I made the fish in coconut sauce stew yesterday and it was fantastic.
I did not fry the fish though and I used grey snapper.
While I used all the spices and other ingredients for the sauce, I varied the quantities slightly and added also, a stalk of lemon grass, 1 whole all-spice berry (pimento) and I did add some turmeric. I used freshly squeezed coconut milk.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. This is now going to be a dish I make regularly! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thank you!
this is making me crave fish curry right now!!
Malar,
Thanks for stopping by!:) Yep, keluthi meen scene with Raja’s BGM, what a combo right? I’m bored of Cat fish and Tilapia.
Cool to know that you are a IR fan too!:) I’m such an addict to IR’s music..LOL..
Hey, ‘Fish Molee’ picture looks great! I would love to try this! You have a great set of recipes here! Keep up the great work!:)