In Indian cuisine, dried fish is highly valued and has a rich history, tradition, and culinary practices ingrained in it. Fish has been dried for generations, and different parts of India have their own special methods and dried fish types. The dried or salted fish known as nethili karuvadu is a popular food in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Local markets, fishmongers, and online stores that specialise in regional Indian ingredients carry it. Or if you are feeling up to it, you can prepare it yourself at home. Let us tell you how to go about it with anchovy fish. The ingredients required are
Anchovies – 250 grams
Onions – 12
Tomato – 1
Garlic – 5 cloves
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder for broth – 1 tbsp
Single Chilli Powder – 1 tbsp
Coriander powder – 3/4 tsp
Curry leaves – a handful
Oil – as required
Salt – as per taste
First, put the anchovies in boiling water and after three minutes of cleaning them well, take them out. Next put a kadai in the oven, add oil and when hot, add crushed garlic and curry leaves and saute. Then, add the finely chopped onions and cook them through. Next, sprinkle in some salt and stir. After the onions are softly cooked, add the coriander, curry, chilli, and turmeric powders and sauté well. Add the finely chopped tomatoes and continue to sauté them when the onions are well-fried and the spices’ green aroma has subsided.
While onions and tomatoes are sauteing, add a little turmeric powder. When the oil separates, add the cleaned anchovies and mix well with the spices. Then cover the curry and cook for a few minutes. Open the lid frequently and stir. Once the anchovies are fried well, switch off the oven and transfer to a plate. Your delicious Nethili Karuvadu is ready. Nethili Karuvadu is a popular ingredient in South Indian cuisine. It is used in dishes like Nethili Karuvadu kuzhambu (spicy fish curry), Nethili Karuvadu thokku (a tangy and spicy side dish), and Nethili Karuvadu fry.
