Fish Fingers

Fish Fingers - South Indian Style

---

The fish fingers served at Anjappar has been our favorite dish. As the kids enjoy finger foods, I had tried this fish fingers which turned out quite tasty. This fish finger is marinated with south Indian masala.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Firm boneless fish cut finger size	10-12 nos
Egg	1 nos
Bread Crumbs	1/2 to 1 cup (As required)
Oil	For Deep Frying
For Marinade:
Turmeric Powder	1 tsp
Chili Powder	1 tsp
Coriander Powder	1 tsp
Cumin Powder	1/4 tsp
Pepper Powder	1 tsp
Garam Masala	1/4 tsp
Mustard Powder (Optional)	1/4 tsp
All purpose flour	2 tsp
Lemon Juice	2 tsp
Salt	To taste
Mayonnaise	To serve

Preparation:
1) Mix all the ingredients listed for marinade and apply on the cut and cleaned fish fingers and marinate it for 15-20 min's.
2) Beat the egg in a small bowl and spread the bread crumbs on a plate.
3) Heat oil in a shallow pan. Meanwhile prepare the fish fingers for frying.
4) Take the marinated fish fingers and dip them in the egg wash and then roll it on the bread crumbs so that they are in cylindrical shape.
5) Fry them in the heated oil for 4-6 min's or until cooked thoroughly. Make sure to put the oil on medium heat, otherwise the bread crumbs will be overcooked and the fish undercooked.
6) Serve hot with mayonnaise.

Panko Breaded & Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

Panko Breaded and Parmesan and Herbs Crusted Tilapia

---

The grilled fish dish is again from a fusion cooking. It is cooked with Italian Parmesan cheese and herbs mixture, Japanese Panko breadcrumbs, and marinated with Indian spices grilled to crisp.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Tilapia	2 pieces*
Paprika Powder	1 tsp
Turmeric Powder	1/2 tsp
Pepper Powder	To taste
Kosher Salt	To taste
Ginger Powder	1/2 tsp
Garlic Powder	1/2 tsp
Onion Powder	1/2 tsp
Grated Parmesan Cheese	1/2 cup
Italian Herbs Mixture#	1-2 tsp
Panko Bread Crumbs	1/2 cup
Egg beaten	2 nos
Olive oil	2-3 tbsp
Mayonnaise	To serve

Preparation:
1) Clean and marinate the fish in Paprika, Pepper Powder, Turmeric powder, Salt, onion powder, ginger and garlic powder for 20-30 min's.
2) Heat a hot grill/griddle and drizzle with little oil.**
3) Mix the grated Parmesan cheese and dried Italian herbs. Dip the marinated wish in the egg wash and then coat the fish with the cheese and herbs mixture.
4) Again make a quick dip in the egg wash and dust it in the breadcrumbs and place it on the hot griddle.
5) Repeat steps 3 & 4 for the second piece of fish. Turn sides and cook for about 12-15 min's or until done. Cover with a lid for 3-4 min's in between. Drizzle oil while cooking.
6) Serve hot with Mayonnaise.

Note: *If the piece of fish is too big cut it in between to two halves for them to cook through evenly and soon.
** You can also cook these fish in a 400°F pre-heated oven for 12-14 min's or until done.
#-Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Rosemary, and Marjoram

Fish En Papillote

Salmon En Papillote with Indian Spices

---

A complete fusion cooking, using the technique of cooking the fish in parchment paper using the traditional Indian spices which is used in the karimeen pollichathu masala. Usually a flat fish (Karimeen) is cooking using banana leaf with ground spice masala paste. I have used a similar method of cooking fish in oven tied up in paper, filled with the pollichathu masala paste.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Salmon*	1 lb cut into two pieces
Shallots finely chopped	3-4 nos
Tomatoes	1 nos
Crushed Garlic	1 tsp
Crushed Ginger	1 tsp
Green chilies finely chopped	1-2 nos
Mustard Seeds	1/2 tsp
Curry leaves	2 strands
Coconut milk	2 tbsp
Tamarind Water (Optional)	1 tbsp
Garam Masala Powder	1 tsp
Salt	To taste
Coconut Oil/Oil	1 tbsp
For Fish Marinade:
Chili Powder	1 tsp
Coriander Powder	1 tsp
Pepper Powder	1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder	1/2 tsp
Salt	To taste
Ginger Garlic Paste	1 tsp
Lime juice	1 tbsp

Preparation:
1) Cut and clean the fish and marinate the fish in the ingredients provided for marinade for 20-30 min's.
2) Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a baking sheet with oil and set aside.
3) Heat coconut oil in a pan and fry the mustard seeds once they splutter add the curry leaves, shallots, green chilies, crushed ginger and garlic. Sauté until the shallots turn translucent and then add the chopped tomatoes and sprinkle garam masala and sauté until the tomatoes are well cooked.
4) Add the tamarind water if you are using or just water and coconut milk and cook for 2-3 min's.
5) Cut two parchment papers to cover the fish. Place each piece of fish on the parchment papers and spread the cooked masala on the fish. Fold the paper covering the fish well. Ensure that the paper is folded well so that the steam doesn't escape.
6) Apply oil on the paper and so that it doesn't burn in the oven. Place them on the greased baking sheets and bake it in the oven for about 10-12 min's or until the paper puffs out. Check in between not to burn the oven.
7) Remove from oven and let it stand for 5 min's and then cut out the paper* and serve hot with steamed rice.

Fish Placed on Paper	Fished folded in paper
Paper greased with oil and oven ready	Cooked and Out of oven

Note: * You can use any other flat fish.
** Be careful not while cutting the paper, since it contains hot steam inside.

Fish in Red Curry

Fish in Thai Red Curry Sauce

---

Very tasty Thai red curry sauce which can be used as a base to cook several dishes. The dish is slightly modified using the ingredients available in the local market.

Ingredients:	Quantity
White Fish	1 lb
Large Onion	1 nos
Thai Red Curry Paste	3-4 tbsp
Coconut Milk	1 cup
Green Chili	1 nos
Fish Sauce/Soy Sauce	1 tsp
Brown/Palm Sugar	1 tsp
Kaffir Lime Leaves/Lemon Rind	1-2 nos/1 tsp
Oil*	2-3 tbsp
Turmeric Powder	1 tsp
Cayenne Pepper Powder(Optional)	1/4 tsp
Salt	To taste
Dried Basil	1/2 tsp
Fresh Basil	5-6 leaves
Chopped Parsley	To Garnish

Preparation:
1) Clean and cut fish into large cubes and marinate fish with salt and turmeric powder for few Min's.
2) Heat oil in a fry pan and fry a 2-3 Min's on each side and set aside.
3) Heat oil in a large sauté pan and sauté the onions for 1-2 Min's and then add the red curry paste sauté for few Min's until the raw smell disappears.
4) Add the lemon rind/lime leaves, green chili, fish sauce, sugar, Cayenne pepper powder and the coconut milk, water/stock and simmer for 8-10 Min's.
5) Add the fried fish to the curry and let it cook for another 10 Min's.
6) Add the dried basil, and then garnish with fresh basil and chopped parsley.
7) Serve hot with steamed rice or flavored rice.

Note:* Usually peanut oil is used for this dish. You can use olive oil or canola oil or vegetable oil.
You can also add vegetables like carrot, zucchini, mushroom to this curry.
You can replace fish with chicken or vegetables or shrimp.
You can make you own red curry paste using the recipe Red Curry Paste or use a readymade paste.

Sura(Shark) Puttu

Selvam got Shark one day and I have never cooked it before. He had eaten it in my cousin's house and he liked that, so I called her up and asked her how to cook.

I tried it out and it came really well.

Ingredients:

Shark 500gms,
Large onions/Small Onions (almost 400 gms),
Garlic flakes 5-6,
Ginger/Garlic paste 1 tbsp,
Green Chilly 2-3,
Turmeric powder 2 tsp,
Red Chilly powder - 1 tsp

For Seasoning
Mustard 1 tsp,
Few Curry leaves ,
Few Coriander leaves
Oil 1 tsp

Preparation:

1) Clean the shark pieces well.
2) In a vessal add the shark pieces, turmeric powder and little salt and let it cook well, (Approximately 10-15) until the shark is cooked well.
3) Once the shark is cooked well, you can peel the outer black & white hard skin easily.
4) Squeeze the water out of it and grate it well and make a mixture by adding turmeric powder, chilly powder.
5) In a tawa add oil and add the ingredients for seasoning and add the garlic flakes, green chillies, ginger/garlic paste and saute well.
6) Once the onion is fried well, add the shark mixture to it.
7) Let them blend well for sometime and get cooked together. (approx 10 mins).
8) Garnish it with coriander leaves.

Meen Kuzhambu

Traditional South Indian Fish Curry

---

First time I had tried this dish being inspired by my cousin and another friend's Tamil Nadu style traditional Meen Kuzhambu a few years ago. I have improvised this to my current style of cooking.

Ingredients:	Quantity
Fish	750 gms
Onion	1 nos
Garlic Chopped	8-10 nos
Green Chili	1 nos
Tamarind Paste	2 tbsp
Salt	To taste
Oil	2 tbsp
Spice Paste:
Small Onions/Shallots	8-10 nos
Large Tomatoes	2 nos
Red Chili Powder	1 tbsp
Coriander Powder	1 tbsp
Turmeric Powder	1 tsp
Cumin Seeds	1 tsp
Fennel Seeds	1 tsp
Fenugreek Seeds	1 tsp
Grated Coconut (Optional)*	1 tbsp
Curry Leaves	5-6 leaves
Tempering:
Mustard Seeds	1 tsp
Fenugreek Seeds	1/2 tsp
Urad Dal	1 tsp
Curry Leaves	One Strand
Coriander Leaves	To Garnish

Preparation:
1) Clean fish and add little salt and half a tsp turmeric powder and set aside.
2) Heat oil in a pan and fry cumin, fennel and fenugreek seeds and add the small onion and fry for 3-4 mins and grind it with the remaining ingredients for spice paste.
3) Heat oil in a sauce pan and add the ingredients for tempering and once the mustard splutters add the finely chopped onions and garlic.
4) Add the ground spice paste and sauté well for 3-4 mins and then add the tamarind paste and add water to get it into medium consistency. Let it boil for 10 mins.
5) Add the fish into the curry and let it cook for 10 - 12 mins or until the fish is well cooked.
6) Garnish with chopped coriander and serve it with steamed rice.

Note: * Kuzhambu tastes as good without the coconut. It gives slightly a different taste.