Fragrant Tomato Fish Thokku

Ingredients

• 500 g fish (any kind), cleaned (மீன்)
• 5 tomatoes, ground to a smooth puree (தக்காளி)
• 2 only shallots (small onions), chopped (சின்ன வெங்காயம்)
• 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste (இஞ்சி பூண்டு விழுது)
• 1 tbsp cumin powder (சீரக தூள்)
• half a tbsp fenugreek powder (வெந்தய தூள்)
• 2 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder (காஷ்மீர் மிளகாய் தூள்)
• 1 tbsp turmeric powder (மஞ்சள் தூள்)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (எலுமிச்சை சாறு)
• as needed salt (உப்பு)
• as needed coriander leaves (கொத்தமல்லி இலை)
• 2 tbsp coconut oil (தேங்காய் எண்ணெய்)

Method

1. Rub the cleaned fish with lemon juice, turmeric and salt and leave it for 30 minutes.
2. Heat the oil, soften the shallots, then add the ginger-garlic paste and tomato puree and cook until the raw smell is gone.
3. Splash in a little water, stir in the cumin, fenugreek and chilli powders and let it bubble once.
4. Slide in the marinated fish, cover and cook until done; adjust salt.
5. When the masala has thickened to a thokku, scatter coriander and take off the heat.

Adapted from பேலியோ ஆரோக்கிய சமையல் (Paleo Arokkiya Samaiyal) by Rtn Kannan Azhagirisamy, page 27. Method rewritten in our own words; ingredient quantities follow the book, with gram weights estimated for the nutrition figures. The book thanks the Arokkiya Unavugal (Healthy Foods) Facebook group and tamilpaleorecipes.com.