Chepala Pulusu / Fish Curry in Tamarind Sauce

One of the memories I have as a kid were of the days, my mom waiting on Sunday early mornings for the fish vendor, who used to sell fish and prawns on a bicycle. All the ladies from the neighborhood coming to him and the bargaining, the early morning gossips etc. I used to sit and watch while the fish vendor washed and cleaned the fish and prawns.
My grandmom makes the best fish curry I have ever tasted. From the time I started cooking I tried my grand-moms recipe, but always something or the other used to go wrong. I always used to get confused about the amount of tamarind used, my dish used to be too tangy or very less tangy..
So I decided to modify her recipe to suit my way of cooking :-)
The authentic Andhra fish curry/pulusu is made using only tamarind sauce. In my version I mixed tomato pulp and tamarind for the gravy.
This was very much liked by both my men.

What you need :

For marination :
Fish pieces : 7 or 8
Turmeric : 1 tsp
Chilli powder : 3 tsp, increase or decrease acc. to taste
Salt : acc. to taste

For gravy:
Onion : 1 big, finely chopped
Green chillies : 2, slit
Curry leaves : a few
Ginger Garlic paste : 1 Tbsp
Turmeric Powder : 1 tsp
Chilli powder : 1 tsp
Salt : to taste
Coconut-Poppy seeds paste : 2 Tbsp (see notes)
Tomato : 1 big, blanch and make puree
Tamarind : size of 1 large lemon, soak in warm water and extract juice.
Coriander leaves : a handful
Oil : as required, I add around 10 Tbsp

Dry Roast and Make into fine powder :
Coriander seeds : 3 Tbsp
Cardamom pods : 6 or 7
Cinnamon : 2 inch
Jeera : 2 Tbsp
Add 2 Tbsp for the gravy. Remaining powder can be stored for future use.

1. Add oil in a wide bottomed large pan.
2. Add onions, curry leaves, ginger garlic paste, turmeric. Fry till raw smell from onions and GG paste disappears.
3. Add prepared masala powder , red chilli powder and salt.Mix well.
4. Add coconut and poppy seeds paste. Fry for another few mins.
5. Layer fish pieces side by side. Reduce heat and cover and cook for 5 mins.
6. Turn the pieces very carefully and cook for another few mins.
7. Now add tamarind juice and tomato pulp.
8. Close and cook till oil floats on top and raw smell of tamarind disappears.
9. Do not mix with a spoon. But gently move the fish pieces or rotate the pan to mix.
10. Adjust salt if required. Add coriander leaves and serve hot with Steamed white rice.

Mom's Tips :
This curry tastes better the next day or after two days.
Mom advices to use Fresh water fish for better result.
To make coconut poppy seeds paste-
Grate 1 cup of fresh coconut (You can use dry coconut if you don't have fresh one)
Fry 4 Tbsp of poppy seeds in a pan with out adding oil till it emits nice aroma and slightly turns brown, and allow it to cool.(Alternatively you can soak poppy seeds in water for about an hour or two)
Add poppy seeds in the mixer and grind for a min, add a few Tbsps of water and grind again.It takes around 10 mins. Then add coconut and grind well. Add water if required. You can store this in refrigerator for 2 or 3 days.