
Kippers for breakfast...well that's ok.
Sausages, bacon, black pudding....this is fine.
But when I talk about fish curry for breakfast, I'm treated with a curled lip of disgust, as if I've suggested tackling a Get-Me-Out-Of-Here bush tucker trial.
Fish, spices, onions, garlic and spinach, served with some cardamom infused rice. This is aromatic deliciousness, guaranteed to light up the digestive system, and it's one of my favourite starts to the day.
So let's take a look at fish:
Healthy Heart
thanks to omega 3 fatty acids, particularly found in oily fish such as salmon and sardines
Lean Strong Muscles
Recipe - for 1
2 x thick white fish fillets cut into chunks ( you can use salmon, tuna is also very good too)
1 x onion finely sliced
3 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 red chilli finely chopped (optional)
ghee
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon mustard seed powder
1 teaspoon asafoetida
1 teaspoon roasted curry powder
handful of crushed curry leaves (dry or fresh)
1 teaspoon gamboge (this is tamarind paste used in fish and chicken curries)
2 handfuls of baby spinach
In a tava, a large frying pan, add the ghee and spices. On a medium heat , warm the spices by stirring them in the ghee.
Add the onions, garlic and chilli. Mix well and let them become coated in the spices and ghee.
When the onions have softened a little (it's ok for them to be crunchy) add the fish chunks and the gamboge paste. Mix well, and then add about 2 glasses of water. Stir and bring to a strong simmer.
After about 5 minutes, add the spinach. Let the sauce reduce and become rich in flavour, allowing the spinach to wilt. Remove from the heat after about 5/8 minutes or until the sauce has reached the consistency you like.
Serve with rice.
Comments: if you are very pitta (too much fire) use 1/2 onion, 1 garlic clove, and remove the chilli.
Gamboge is the ingredient that transforms a fish or chicken curry into something very special! I am happy to bring back gamboge, as well as the other freshly ground spices from Sri Lanka (the roasted curry powder and turmeric are particularly good) Get in touch and let me know what you would like, and I'll add your requests to my spice market list.
Comments