Ingredients

• 8 dry red chilies
• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 2 large tomatoes (cut into cubes)
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 3 to 4 tablespoons coconut powder
• Coriander (chopped, to taste)
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon paanch phoran seeds
• 10 to 12 curry leaves
• 1 large onion (ground to a paste)
• 2 cups water (hot)
• 1 tablespoon ginger paste
• Walnut-sized ball of tamarind (soaked in 1/2 cup of hot water)
• 2 pounds/1 kilogram fish (cut into 1-inch thick slices)
• Salt (to taste)
• Coriander (chopped, to taste)

Preparation

1. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan on a medium flame and roast the dry red chilies, mustard, and cumin seeds until they begin to release their aroma. Cool and grind to a fine powder.
2. Grind the toasted spice powder, tomatoes, turmeric, garam masala, and coconut into a smooth paste. Set aside. Squeeze the soaked tamarind well to remove all the pulp.
3. Heat the oil in a wide heavy-bottomed pan and add the paanch phoran and curry leaves. When they stop spluttering, add the onion paste and fry until light brown.
4. Put the ginger and garlic pastes and fry for 3 to 4 minutes.
5. Add the tomato and spice paste and fry until the oil begins to separate from the masala.
6. Put 2 cups of hot water and the tamarind pulp to the masala and mix well.
7. Bring the gravy to a boil and then simmer.
8. Gently add the fish to the gravy and cook until done.
9. Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot with plain boiled rice.