Chepala Pulusu

Chepala pulusu, a traditional South-Indian Andhra style fish curry made using fish pieces and tamarind extract.

It is a very popular fish curry commonly called as fish pulusu in South-Indian Telangana and Andhra regions.

‘Pulusu’ is basically a tamarind based gravy and here I have made this curry by using tamarind based gravy, onions, tomatoes and fish pieces.

To make this pulusu, we need fish pieces and washing of fish pieces is very important while making any fish recipe

The recipe is very easy and a very commonly made gravy down south. Here, in this gravy we can not only add fish but we can add several other vegetables too in this pulusu.

Fish recipes are very common in coastal regions and fish is good for health too. Eating fish once in a while is a good source of Vitamin A and is good for eyesight too

Including fish in our diet in any form is a healthy diet and there are various ways a fish can be made and used in recipes.

How to clean fish:

1.       Always wash the fish well under running water 3-4 times. Also wash it well by using salt and turmeric too.

2.       If there is any smell coming out of fish even after washing with salt and turmeric then, add some lemon drops and wash it well again.

3.       Doing this cleans the fish quite well and removes any sort of unwanted smell too.

This pulusu is quite an easy and a very popular fish base in South-Indian regions.

CHEPALA PULUSU RECIPE OR ANDHRA FISH CURRY:

Preparation Time	Cook Time	Total Time
30 mins	35 mins	1hr 5 mins

Ingredients

Cleaning of fish:

·         7-8 fish pieces

·         1/2 tsp turmeric powder/haldi

·         Salt as required

Making of Chepala pulusu:

·         2 tbsp oil

·         1/2 tsp mustard seeds aavalu

·         3-4 green chilies vertically slit

·         8-10 curry leaves

·         3 medium sized onions finely chopped

·         salt as per taste

·         1 tsp ginger garlic paste

·         1 tsp red chili powder

·         1/2 tsp turmeric powder

·         1 tsp roasted coriander seeds powder

·         3 tomatoes finely chopped

·         2 lemon sized tamarind soaked well and juice extracted(approximately make a juice equal to two bowls)

·         2 green chilies slit vertically

·         5-6 curry leaves

·         2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

For fish pulusu powder:

·         1/4 tsp methi seeds/fenugreek seeds

·         1/2 tsp mustard seeds aavalu

·         1/2 tsp cumin seeds jeelakarra

·         2 tsp coriander seeds/dhania

INSTRUCTIONS

Cleaning of fish:

1.       Take the fish pieces; wash them well under running water several times.

2.       Remove any scales or unwanted things that appear while washing.

3.       Wash it with some haldi and salt water by rubbing the pieces again under running water.

4.       Once washing is done well, add some turmeric powder/haldi and salt, mix the spices well with every fish piece and rest aside for 20 -30 minutes.

5.       Fish is ready to be used for cooking purpose.

Making of fish pulusu powder:

1.       In a pan, add some methi seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, dry roast them for few seconds on low flame.

2.       Add these roasted ingredients into a blending jar and make them into a fine powder.

3.       Rest this powder aside for later use.

Making of Chepala pulusu:

1.       In a cooking pot, add oil and heat it.

2.       Add mustard seeds and let them crackle.

3.       Add vertically slit green chilies and curry leaves.

4.       Into it, add finely chopped onions and saute for few minutes.

5.       Add salt as per requirement and saute for few minutes.

6.       Add ginger garlic paste and saute until raw smell disappears.

7.       Into it, add red chili powder, turmeric powder, roasted coriander seeds powder, mix these spices well.

8.       Cook the spices until oil leaves the sides.

9.       Add finely chopped tomatoes; cook the tomatoes and spices until tomatoes get soft.

10.    Add the tamarind extracted juice; add chopped green chilies, curry leaves, coriander leaves.

11.    Add the blended fish pulusu powder.

12.    Add the marinated fish pieces into the pulusu.

13.    Cook the pulusu by bringing a boil and cook it for about 10 minutes until the fish pieces get soft.

14.    Do not stir much as the fish may break into pieces.

15.    A slight stir in between cooking the pulusu would be enough.

16.    Chepala pulusu is ready to be served.

17.    Serve hot with steamed rice and enjoy!!!

Recipe Notes

If one is looking forward to make Nellore style chepala pulusu then adding some raw mango slices while bringing a boil into the pulusu and cooking by following the same directions as in the recipe would give us traditional Nellore style chepala pulusu.