Name: Sour curry of barramundi
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 4 - 6
Ingredients: 1 onion, finely chopped; 60 ml (¼ cup) vegetable oil; 40 gm (¼ cup) finely grated fresh coconut; 2 tsp amchur (see note); 2 sprigs fresh curry leaves, plus extra to serve; 375 ml (1½ cup) fish or chicken stock, or water; 1 small piece cassia bark; 4 barramundi fillets (180gm each), skin on; 2½ tbsp tamarind extract (see note), or to taste; For seasoning: lime juice, plus extra wedges to serve; To serve: small green chillies and steamed basmati or long-grain rice; Spice paste; 1 tsp each coriander and cumin seeds; ½ tsp each fennel seeds and fenugreek seeds; ¼ tsp each black peppercorns, cloves and cardamom seeds; 35 gm ginger, coarsely chopped; 10 gm fresh turmeric, coarsely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped; 1 lemongrass, white part only, finely chopped; 1 tsp each paprika and ground Kashmiri chilli (see note)

Sour curry of barramundi

This South East Asian-style curry has a tangy sour flavour from tamarind and amchur, dried green mango powder. The use of a little stock makes it quite a light curry and the flavour of the fish really shines.

Serves 4 - 6

Prep

30M

Cook

20M

Total

50M

Ingredients

1 onion, finely chopped

60 ml (¼ cup) vegetable oil

40 gm (¼ cup) finely grated fresh coconut

2 tsp amchur (see note)

2 sprigs fresh curry leaves, plus extra to serve

375 ml (1½ cup) fish or chicken stock, or water

1 small piece cassia bark

4 barramundi fillets (180gm each), skin on

2½ tbsp tamarind extract (see note), or to taste

For seasoning: lime juice, plus extra wedges to serve

To serve: small green chillies and steamed basmati or long-grain rice

Spice paste

1 tsp each coriander and cumin seeds

½ tsp each fennel seeds and fenugreek seeds

¼ tsp each black peppercorns, cloves and cardamom seeds

35 gm ginger, coarsely chopped

10 gm fresh turmeric, coarsely chopped

2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

1 lemongrass, white part only, finely chopped

1 tsp each paprika and ground Kashmiri chilli (see note)

Method

Main

1.For spice paste, dry-roast whole spices until fragrant (1-2 minutes). Cool briefly, then pound with a mortar and pestle until finely ground, add remaining ingredients and a pinch of salt, and pound to a smooth paste.

2.Sauté onion in oil in a wok over high heat until tender and starting to caramelise (8-10 minutes). Add spice paste and stir until fragrant and toasted (1-2 minutes). Add coconut, amchur and curry leaves, stir to combine, then add stock and cassia bark, and season well with salt. Bring to the boil, add fish, reduce heat to low and simmer, turning occasionally, until fish flakes easily (4-6 minutes). Season to taste with tamarind, lime and salt, and serve with rice, chillies and lime wedges.

Note Tamarind extract is best made fresh. To make 80ml extract, combine 1 tbsp tamarind pulp with 100ml hot water, and stand until pulp softens. Break up the pulp in the water with the back of a spoon and strain through a coarse sieve. Amchur and ground Kashmiri chilli are available from Indian grocers and online from herbies.com.au.
Drink Suggestion: Off-dry fragrant riesling. Drink suggestion by Max Allen
Notes