Chepala Pulusu (Fish)

Most of the non-vegetarians will love to have Fish and even everyone knows how to prepare it also.

But , eventhough I just want to share my attamma's recipe with you. We prepare in a couple of ways, this is one of it's kind. In my future posts, I'll try to post them also.

I don't have much knowledge of the the fish variety which we get here - let me just get a quick note -- Salmon, Cat Fish, Tilapia, Rahoo etc. Generally, I use Rahoo or Cat Fish, since I find these similar to what we get in India.

Ingredients:
Fish - 1.5 to 2 lbs
Onion - 1 big size(chopped in big pieces
Garlic Cloves - 4 to 5
Corriander Seeds - 2 tbsp
Methi Seeds - 1 tsp
Dry Coconut - 3 tsp(grated)
Dry Red Chillies - 10 to 15(as per your taste)
Tamrind extract
Salt, Turmeric Powder, Oil , Karipatta

Method:
First wash the fish with salt and turmeric so as to remove the bad smell of the fish.

Dry roast corriander seeds, methi seeds and red chillies.

Take 1 to 2 tsp of oil in a pan and roast the onions also just for 2 to 3 mts.

Mix all of the above mixture including onion-garlic paste and the above dry grinded powder adding salt and turmeric to it.

Now take the dry grinder and grind red chillies, coconut, methi seeds and corriander seeds and keep aside.

Next take roasted onions and garlic in a food chopper and just grind into coarse mixture.

Coming to the final step, Take about 3 tbsp of oil in a wide pan, the reason why i am specifically asking for a wide pan is that there should be enough room for each fish slice, never cook in a small vesel....the reason if cooked in small vessel, more chances of fish becoming bajji-bajji.

Now , take the oil in a pan and add karipatta(karvepaku) and the grinded mixture and fry well for more than 5 minutes. At this point add the tamrind extract about 3 tbsp(depending on one's wish they can increase or decrease the content of tamrind extract) and 2 to 2.5 cups of water to it.

Cook the fish on medium heat only. Check the uppu, karamu (salt and spicyness) and then lastly add the fish pieces to the gravy. Add salt and turmeric little bit of less only, as you had already applied to fish before.

Cover it with a lid and make sure it's on medium heat and don't turn the pieces with spoon, just shake the pan, make sure that the fish pieces should dip in the gravy and its ready to be have in 15-20 mts.