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Zesty Indian Tamarind Fish Curry

Name: Zesty Indian Tamarind Fish Curry
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 75 min
Total time: 100 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 500g fish fillets, cleaned and cut into chunks; 1/2 tsp turmeric powder; Salt, to taste; 1 tbsp oil; 1 cup water; 100g tamarind pulp, soaked and strained; 2 tbsp oil; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds; 10-12 curry leaves; 2 green chilies, slit lengthwise; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 tomatoes, pureed; 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste; 1 tsp red chili powder; 1/2 tsp coriander powder; Salt, to taste; 2 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped

Dive into the spiced fusion of succulent fish in a tangy tamarind and curry leaf sauce.

4.4(87 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·September 27, 2025

Zesty Indian Tamarind Fish Curry — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

25 min

Cook

1 h 15 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Marinade

For the Tamarind Sauce

For Final Assembly

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 324 kcal
Protein: 29.68 g
Carbs: 23.2 g
Fat: 12.48 g
Fiber: 3.1 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 1297 kcal
Protein: 118.7 g
Carbs: 92.8 g
Fat: 49.9 g
Fiber: 12.4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
500g fish fillets cleaned and cut into chunks	550	110	0	5	0
1/2 tsp turmeric powder	8	0.2	1.5	0.2	0.5
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 tbsp oil	120	0	0	14	0
1 cup water	0	0	0	0	0
100g tamarind pulp soaked and strained	240	3	62	1	5
2 tbsp oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 tsp mustard seeds	5	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.2
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds	6	0.3	1.2	0.2	0.9
10-12 curry leaves	1	0	0.2	0.1	0.1
2 green chilies slit lengthwise	6	0.3	1.5	0.1	0.5
1 onion finely chopped	44	1.2	10	0.2	1.5
2 tomatoes pureed	36	1.5	8	0.4	2
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste	30	0.4	6	0.1	0.5
1 tsp red chili powder	6	0.3	1.1	0.3	0.7
1/2 tsp coriander powder	4	0.2	0.8	0.1	0.4
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped	1	0.1	0.2	0	0.1

These estimations are based on typical values and are not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Fish

1
Mix marinade
In a bowl, mix turmeric powder, salt, and oil.
2
Rub fish
Rub the mixture over the fish chunks.
3
Rest fish
Let it rest for at least 30 minutes to absorb flavors.

Preparing the Tamarind Sauce

1
Temper spices
Heat oil in a pan; add mustard seeds until they splutter.
Tip: Do not let the mustard seeds burn as it will impart a bitter taste.
2
Add spices
Add fenugreek seeds, curry leaves, and green chilies.
3
Sauté aromatics
Stir in the onions and sauté until golden, then add ginger-garlic paste.
Tip: Gently sauteing the spices on low heat ensures their oils are released, enhancing the flavor.

How to Make Zesty Indian Tamarind Fish Curry

Total time: 1 h 40 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Sautéing the Base
Mix in the tomato puree and cook until oil separates.
2
Simmering the Sauce
Pour in the tamarind extract and bring to a gentle simmer.
3
Adding Fish & Final Touch
Add marinated fish and cook until done, garnishing with coriander leaves.