Main Course · Dinner · Asian · Sri Lankan ·

Aromatic Sri Lankan Fish Curry

Name: Aromatic Sri Lankan Fish Curry
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 500g white fish fillet, cut into chunks; 1 tsp ground turmeric; 1 tsp salt; 2 tbsp lime juice; 1 tbsp coconut oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 inch ginger, grated; 1 tbsp ground coriander; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 1 tbsp chili powder; 1 tsp fenugreek seeds; 6 curry leaves; 2 pandan leaves, torn; 400ml coconut milk, full-fat recommended; 200ml water; 2 tbsp tamarind paste; Salt, to taste

This delicious Sri Lankan fish curry blends a variety of spices and the richness of coconut milk, perfect for a warming and satisfying meal.

4(795 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 20, 2025

Aromatic Sri Lankan Fish Curry — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

25 min

Cook

1 h 15 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Fish Marinade

For the Curry Base

For the Spice Blend

For the Coconut Gravy

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 357 kcal
Protein: 30.58 g
Carbs: 13.95 g
Fat: 20.2 g
Fiber: 2.65 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1429 kcal
Protein: 122.3 g
Carbs: 55.8 g
Fat: 80.8 g
Fiber: 10.6 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
500g white fish fillet cut into chunks	550	110	0	6	0
1 tsp ground turmeric	8	0.2	1.4	0.2	0.5
1 tsp salt	0	0	0	0	0
2 tbsp lime juice	8	0.1	2.8	0.1	0.1
1 tbsp coconut oil	120	0	0	14	0
1 large onion finely chopped	60	1.7	14	0.1	2.6
3 cloves garlic minced	13	0.6	3	0	0.2
1 inch ginger grated	5	0.1	1	0	0.2
1 tbsp ground coriander	23	0.9	3.5	0.8	2.1
1 tbsp ground cumin	22	1.1	2.7	1.3	1.4
1 tbsp chili powder	24	1.2	4	1.1	2.1
1 tsp fenugreek seeds	12	0.9	2.2	0.2	0.9
6 curry leaves	1	0	0.1	0	0
2 pandan leaves torn	1	0	0.1	0	0
400ml coconut milk full-fat recommended	552	5.5	13	57	0
200ml water	0	0	0	0	0
2 tbsp tamarind paste	30	0	7	0	0.5
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These nutrition values are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Fish

1
Combine ingredients
In a bowl, combine fish chunks with turmeric, salt, and lime juice.
2
Marinate
Cover and let it marinate for at least 20 minutes in the refrigerator.

Preparing the Curry Base

1
Heat oil
Heat coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2
Sauté aromatics
Add onions, garlic, and ginger, sautéing until onions are translucent and aromatic.
3
Add spices
Add the spice blend ingredients, continue to stir for another 2-3 minutes until spices are fragrant.
Tip: Ensure not to burn the spices; they should be aromatic, not bitter. Pro Tip: Add a splash of water if the spices seem to be sticking to the pan.

How to Make Aromatic Sri Lankan Fish Curry

Total time: 1 h 40 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Building the Flavor Base
Add coconut milk, water, and tamarind paste to the curry base, stirring well.
2
Simmering
Let the mixture simmer on low heat, allowing the flavors to meld for 10 minutes.
3
Cooking the Fish
Add the marinated fish into the simmering curry, cooking gently for another 15 minutes until the fish is cooked through.