Nellore style Fish Stew/Nellore chepala pulusu/Minu kalavala

Nellore is a city in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.There is a special method of cooking fish here,they do not use ginger-garlic paste and no marination is required for this process. They cook fish skillets in tamarind sauce and they add a special curry powder for this.This is an excellent recipe which is very spicy and delicious. This recipe can be done with any type of fish. Fish is considered as an ideal food for  consuming during weight loss programes as these contain less calories and are rich in proteins,minerals and Vitamins.Many varieties of fish like salmons,sardines fish  contain essential fatty acids called omega-3 fatty acids which have many benefits for human health. Do check fish fry recipe also which I have shared earlier.

Preparation time : 20 mins

Cooking time : 35 mins

Yield : 2

Ingredients :

Fish fillets : 6-7 (any type of  fish)

Onions : 3

Tomatoes : 2

Fenugreek seeds/menthya/menthulu : 1 tsp

Mustard seeds/sasive/avallu : 1 tsp

Cumin seeds/jeerige/jeera : 1 tsp

Slitted Green chilies/pachi mirchi/menasinakayi : 7-9 no.

Red chili powder/karam/ona menasinakaya pudi : 1 tbsp

Special masala Powder : 1 tbsp (preparation given below)

Salt : to taste

Oil : 3 tbsp

Tamarind pulp : 1 cup

Curry leaves/karivebina soppu/karivepaku : few

Coriander leaves/kothumbari soppu/kothmir : for garnishing

Ingredients for making 'Special Masala powder' :

oil : 1 tsp

Fenugreek seeds/menthya/menthulu : 1 tsp

Mustard seeds/sasive/avallu : 1 tsp

Cumin seeds/jeerige/jeera : 1 tsp

Coriander seeds/dhaniya/dhaniyalu : 1 tsp

Garlic pods : 3

In a kadai,heat 1 tsp of oil,roast  all the above ingredients one by one (fenugreek seeds,mustard  seeds,cumin seeds,coriander seeds,garlic pods),cool them and grind together into coarse powder.This is called as Special Masala Powder for this curry.

Method Of Preparation :

1. Chop onions and tomatoes finely and keep aside,add little water to tamarind pulp and set aside.


2. Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a thichk bottomed vessel,add fenugreek seeds,saute for 30 secs,then add mustard seeds,saute till they pop out,then add cumin seeds and saute for 30 secs.


3. Add chopped onions,saute for 3-4 mins or till they turn slightly brown,then add curry leaves,slitted green chilies,tomato pieces and saute for 5-7 mins or till the tomatoes turn soft,then add Special Masala Powder,Red chili powder,salt and cook for 3 more minutes.


4. Then add cleaned fish pieces/fillets and tamarind juice,cook for 10-15 mins on a high flame by closing the lid. Then remove the lid and gently stir once or just shake the kadai,(as the fish pieces break while stirring,be gentle while stirring). When the oil comes up,switch off the flame.


5. Dish out and garnish with coriander leaves. Tastes yummy and a great combination for rice.

[caption id="attachment_461" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nellore style Fish Stew/Nellore chepala pulusu/Minu kalavala[/caption]