Nellore Chepala Pulusu (Fish curry )

Nellore Chepala Pulusu As soon as I hear this name I get water in my mouth. It is very very famous in Andhra Pradesh.

Ingredients:

1.    5 medium pieces of Fish( I used Salmon)

2.    1/2 cup Red Onions(sliced),

3.    1Tomato(sliced),

4.    1/2 cup big chunks of raw mango(optional),

5.    Tamarind – lemon sized ball(soaked for 10min.),

6.    2-3 tsp Red chilli powder(adjust as per the taste),

7.    ¼ tsp Turmeric powder,

8.    salt to taste,

9.    1tsp.mustard seeds,

10.  2 sprigs curry leaves,

11.  3 tbsp.oil,

12.  2 cups Water.

Masala Powder:

1tsp.methi seeds, 1/2tsp.mustard seeds, 1tsp. coriander seeds, 2 flakes of garlic. Dry roast all the ingredients except for the garlic and grind them into fine powder and then add garlic and crush it little and keep the powder aside.

Method:

Make thick tamarind pulp with 1/2 cup water and soaked tamarind and keep aside. In a pan heat the oil, once the oil is heated add mustard seeds and curry leaves. When the mustard seeds start spluttering add the onions pieces and stir  them till soft, then add tomato pieces and raw mango pieces and Cook for about 3min. now add the tamarind pulp and 2 cups of water, cover it with the lid and let it come to boil. Then add salt, turmeric powder, Red chilli powder and mix well. Now add the fish pieces to the boiling gravy and cover it with the lid, cook on high flame for 10min. After 10min carefully turn the fish pieces and cook for another 15min. on medium flame, until the gravy comes to a saucy consistency(should not be very tick), now sprinkle the masala powder that we have prepared before, mix well and remove it form the flame...Serve it Hot with steamed rice. This curry tastes even better the next day as the flavours incorporate into the fish.