Pilchard Curry
Fish Curry from a Can
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Heat
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Serves
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Dietary Info
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Prep 10 mins
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Cook 20 mins
Pilchards from a tin, with a few Indian spices to create a really quick, nutritious yet cheap meal - really delicious!
Hari says
This brings back so many memories of childhood for me. We all loved this fish curry but it's only recently I realised that mum would cook this when times were hard and money was tight. It's a great dish because you don't even have to add tomatoes, they are already in the sauce. All it needs is a few choice spices to bring it to life - simple, quick, nutritious and a really cheap meal that's packed full of goodness and flavour.
- Ingredients
- Method
- 2 x 425g tin of pilchard in tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 onion, sliced
- ½ tsp carom seeds
- 2 cloves of garlic, sliced
- 2 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 chilli, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi)
- Handful of fresh coriander, chopped
Method
- Heat oil in a pan and add carom seeds. When the carom seeds start to sizzle add the sliced onion and garlic then fry until lightly brown.
- Reduce the heat and add ginger, chilli, turmeric, salt, fenugreek and fry until aromatic (about 5 mins). If the spices stick just add a dash of water to loosen.
- Open the tin of pilchards and pour in the tomato juice keeping the fish behind.
- Cook everything to create a thick masala paste which becomes nice and shiny.
- Gently place the fish into the masala and heat. Be careful not to stir as you don't want the fish to break up. If it looks a little dry, add some hot water.
- Remove from the heat and add garam masala and a good pinch of coriander to serve.
Nutritional information
| Typical values* | per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 139 |
| Fat (g) | 8.3 |
| of which saturates (g) | 1.5 |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 2.0 |
| of which sugars (g) | 1.4 |
| Fibre (g) | 0.2 |
| Protein (g) | 14 |
| Salt (mg) | 0.63 |
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Comments
Comments (24)
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Peter
Pilchard Curry, from a tin???
So there I am craving a curry and its late and I reach for the tinned Pilchards. Oh yes!
You are my saviour.
Many Thanks
Peter
PS
Are you married? Lol sorry I know you are...-
Hari Ghotra
Haha oh yes Peter - curry from tinned pilchards!!
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Anna
Hari this was a huge childhood favourite! My cousins retained the recipe and makes it regularly even now. We, like zubair had thinly sliced potatoes too. I guess to make it go even further in a humble household.-
Hari Ghotra
Hi Anna I'm so pleased to here your family memories nice to pad it out with potatoes - yum! Hari
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Eszter
Hi Hari,
By fenugreek, do you the whole seeds, powdered seeds or fresh or dried fenugreek (kasoori methi)?
Thank you for your recipes!
E.-
Hari Ghotra
Hi I means the fried leaves - Kasoori methi. I will make it more clear on the recipe. Thanks and I hope you like it.
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June Robinson
Looking forward to trying this recipe. Sounds very tasty and economical. Thanks so much-
Hari Ghotra
It's a great one and yes super cheap too. Let me know what you think. Hari
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Jon
Hi Hari have you tried using Dill instead of Dhania?, very interesting flavour! Chaou, Jon-
Hari Ghotra
Thanks for your suggestions - sounds really good.
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Pravin
This recipe has traveled around the world! I grew up in South Africa, and this was one of my favorite dishes. And like you, I now realize that this was a budget dish that mom would make when times were tough. But its so good! No trip to the beach was complete without tin fish sandwiches.
I am now using it in the US, where nobody even eats tinned fish. (we only get it at the dollar store.)
Thank you for this -
Terry
Amazed to find a recipe for this online. I lived with my nan and she used to make this for me when i was small. I used to love eating it. As an adult ive gotten weird looks when ive tried telling people how nice it is. Will definitely be cooling this. Thanks-
Hari Ghotra
Hi Terry Your comment fills me with so much happiness!! Please report back on what you think. So happy to have you join the website. Please check out my app (its Free) I would love to see a picture of your dish! Thanks Hari
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Zubair
OMG! So I'm from the uk but living in Thailand for a couple years.. I got 2 cans with the intention of making a dish that my mother used to make for me when I was young. Who knew I'd find a recipe online! Although, I remember having thin sliced potatoes when i had it. I'm sure I can incorporate into you're recipe. Thanks You for sharing.-
Hari Ghotra
Hey Zubair This is such a big childhood dish for me and I'm so happy to hear that it is for you too. Please down load my app (it's free - just search for me on the app store) because I would love to see a picture of the dish you make! I like the potato addition, yes definitely easy to incorporate into the recipe. I cant wait to see your finished dish!! Thanks so much Hari
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Paul Strickland
Tesco says Carom seeds are also know as Ajwain Seeds, you can order from their website-
Hari Ghotra
Hi Paul yes they are the same so get hold of some but only use them sparingly as they are very strong. Thanks for your comment Hari
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Dusty
I make pilchard curry regularly frying red onion with fenugreek seeds ,black cumin seeds,cinamon bark and one green cardomon pod .one chopped chilli till soft then adding a couple choped tomatoes before spices and garlick ginger paste and the tomatoe juice of the pichards ..just a quick summary of my own recipie for tinned fish..-
Hari Ghotra
Hi Dusty Yay another Pilchard curry fan - we are in the minority! Thanks for sharing your recipe too sounds really good - I will have to try it. Thanks so much Hari
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Michael
Hi Hari, thank you very much for that kind offer but I've managed to buy some Ajwain Seeds from my local Asian supermarket, I'm really looking forward to trying the recipe out. Thanks again.-
Hari Ghotra
Hi Michael Great let me know what you think - be really careful with the carom they are very powerful seeds.
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Michael
Hi Hari, I'm struggling to find Carom Seeds is there an alternative I can use in this recipe?-
Hari Ghotra
Hi Michael There isn't really, the plant is also known as Bishops weed, it has a similar taste to thyme but you really need the seeds. Direct message me your address and I will get some out to you. Thanks Hari
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