Fish Molee, Fish Moly

 Fish Molee is a famous kerala fish curry made with fried fish cooked in coconut milk. The word molee itself literally means "stew". It is a mild stew suitable for those who like mildly spiced food. Those who like more spice can increase the number of green chillies. The fish curry can be had with white rice, puttu,  vellaiappam   

                               

Ingredients 

For Marinade

Fish Fillets - 4

Salt - 1 tsp

Chilly powder - 1 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1 tsp

For Gravy (Stew)

Green Chillies - 2
Onion (medium sized) - 1 (sliced diagonally)
Ginger - 1 " (sliced)
Garlic - 2-3 pods (sliced)

Pepper powder - 1 tsp
Coconut Milk - 2 cups (Tastes best with fresh coconut milk)
Curry Leaves - 1 string
Oil - 3 tblsp
Lemon Juice (or vineger) - 1 tblsp
Salt - to taste

Method 

1. Wash the fish fillets thoroughly and then marinate with turmeric powder, chilly powder and salt. Keep it aside.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the fish fillets.
3. After a few minutes, or when fillets turn light golden brown in color, remove the pieces.
4. In the same oil, fry onions, curry leaves, garlic and ginger till they get cooked.
5. Add sliced green chilies and fry for a minute.
6. Add water, lemon juice, pepper powder and salt to the above.
7. Boil the mixture and then lower the flame.
8. Add coconut milk and simmer the gravy for 3 to 4 minutes until it becomes thick. Do not let it come to a full boil. Just let it simmer.
9. Now add the fried fish fillets to the above and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
10. Fish Molee is ready. Serve it with white rice, puttu, vellaiappam, appam, idiyappam etc.

Fish Masala

Ingredients:

For Marinating

Fish - 1 lb (cut into pieces)
Red Chilly Powder - 2 tsp
Corriander Powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Fennel Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - as needed
Lemon Juice - as needed (app. 1 tblsp)

For  Masala

Onion - 1 big(or 2 small finely chopped)
Tomato - 1 big (or 2 small chopped)
Green Chilly - 4
Red chilly Powder - 2 tsp
Corriander Powder - 1.5 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp
Fennel Powder - 1/4 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1/4 tsp
Grated Cococnut - 2 tblsp
Tamarind - small lime sized
Salt - as needed
Cilantro - for garnish
Oil - 2 tblsp

Method:

1. Cut the fish into small pieces and marinate with the ingredients under 'For Marinating'.
2. After about 5 minutes of marinating, shallow fry the pieces.
3. To prepare the masala, heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till golden brown.
4. Next add the tomatoes and green chillies and cook till the tomatoes become pulpy.
5. Now add the tamarind pulp and all the dry spices. (red chilly powder, corriander powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, fennel powder and salt)
6. Grind the coconut and add it to the masala.
7. Cook till the mixture is well cooked and oil seperates from the masala.
8. Finally add the fried fish pieces and chopped cilantro.
9. Toss gently and cover with a lid. Cook on medium low heat for few minutes and switch off.
10. Serve with white rice or chappatti