This light and flavorful fish curry with coconut, tomatoes, turmeric, and red chili powder is a staple in our home. Served with steamed rice, it makes for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
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This post was first published in Jan 2016 and has been updated with new photos, detailed steps, and a video.
I love how fast fish cooks making it a quick and easy weeknight dinner option. This curry is cooked with just a few ingredients to elevate the mild flavors of white fish. This simple yet flavorful curry pies really well with aromatic Basmati rice for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
In this recipe, I have used catfish. However, you can substitute catfish with other mild fish such as grouper, barramundi, halibut, or cod.
To prep the fish, I rinse the fish fillet in cold water and then pat them dry with paper towels. Cut into 2-inch pieces.
How to Make Fish Curry
Here are some photos showing how to make this quick and easy fish curry in coconut gravy. Please scroll down to the recipe card for the exact ingredient measurements and steps.
- First, puree onion, tomatoes, coconut, ginger, and garlic to a fine paste.
- Heat oil in a medium pan. Add mustard seeds and once they start to splutter carefully add the onion and tomato puree.
- Add turmeric and red chili powder and cook on medium heat for 5 mins until the oil starts to separate stirring occasionally.
- Drain any water/lemon juice from the fish and add the fish to the pan.
- Add salt and ½ cup of water.
- Gently mix fish in the curry.
- Cook covered on medium heat for 5 mins.
- Depending on the thickness of the fish you may need to cook up to 10 mins.
- Garnish with cilantro.
Serve with Basmati rice or Jeera Rice and lime wedges!
Love fish? Try the crispy Pan-Fried Spicy Pompano that pairs really with fish curry and steamed rice. For more Halibut Recipes check out my weeknight staple Fish Tacos and the air-fried fish fingers.
Other favorite fish recipes:
★ Have you tried this recipe? We love your feedback, Please click on the stars in the recipe card below to rate.
Recipe
EASY Fish Curry with coconut
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound halibut or catfish boneless skinles fillet
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tomato cut into 4 pieces
- 1 small red onion roughly chopped
- 4 tablespoons fresh grated coconut
- ½ inch ginger peeled and chopped
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
- 2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Wash and drain the fish. Cut into 2-inch cubes and apply 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
- Puree onion, tomatoes, coconut, ginger, and garlic to a fine paste.
- Heat oil in a medium pan. Add mustard seeds and once they start to splutter carefully add the onion and tomato puree.
- Add turmeric and red chili powder and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes until the oil starts to separate stirring occasionally.
- Drain any water/lemon juice from the fish and add the fish to the pan.
- Add salt, water and gently mix together the sauce and the fish. Cook covered on medium heat for 5 mins. For thicker fish cook up to 10 mins. Add more water if needed to bring the gravy to your desired consistency.
- Serve with Hot Basmati rice and lime wedges.
Nutrition
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Lucretia says
Alright now ! I will try to make this tmrw night ! I have some whole first with heads still attached and also fillet. I will use the fillet for this dish and fry the other whole fish. I will let you know how it goes !
Archana says
Looking forward to your feedback
Lisa v says
This was delicious and so easy. We will definitely be making it again and again
Alice says
This was amazing! And truly easy to make. I used halibut for the fish and substituted kashmiri chili powder with 1.5tsp smoked paprika and 0.5tsp cayenne. I was impressed with how much flavor it had for so little cooking time. Will make again!
Kb says
Can you use tilapia?
Archana says
yes! Tilapia works too 🙂
Sheila says
What can I substitute for the fresh coconut? Coconut milk? Coconut flakes? Thanks
Archana says
Coconut milk will work great!
SADAF says
When substituting with coconut milk, should we use a whole can or only 4 tablespoons of coconut milk? Also, where does one find fresh grated coconut?
Archana says
You can find fresh grated coconut in the freezer section of Indian grocery stores.
Substitute with 3/4 up of coconut milk in place of fresh coconut and water called in the recipe.You can find fresh grated coconut in the freezer section of Indian grocery stores
Diana says
Would it be okay to use salmon instead?
Archana says
yes! Absolutely
Heather says
I made the variation of this recipe that's in your cookbook with shrimp instead of fish, and it was a delightful meal. Thank you so much!
Archana Mundhe says
Thank you so much for trying the recipe and for sharing your twist with shrimp—it sounds absolutely delicious!