Fish Molee (Kerala)

Fish Molee / Moli or Meen Molee is a famous fish curry from Kerala (South India). The word molee literally means “stew”. Fish Molee is a preparation where fish is stewed in coconut milk and very low spiced flavor in masala is prepared, so that flavor of the fish dominates the taste of the curry.

Ingredients #

  • Basa Fish (or any white fish) - 600 gm (cubed)
  • Coconut Milk - 200 ml
  • White Onions - 2 medium (finely sliced)
  • Ginger - 1 and ½ inch (finely shredded)
  • Garlic - 4 cloves (cut in half, length-ways)
  • Black Cardamom - 2 (lightly crushed)
  • Cloves - 4
  • Cinnamon Stick - 2 (3 cm pieces)
  • Bay-leaf - 1
  • Turmeric Powder - 1 and ½ teaspoon (or 2 teaspoons)
  • Plain Flour - 1 teaspoon
  • Green Chilly - 2 (split in half, length-ways)
  • Salt (to taste) - 2 teaspoon
  • Oil (mustard) - 5 tablespoons (90 ml approx.)
  • Water - 1 cup
  • Lemon - ½

Recipe #

Add oil to a wok (Karahi), when it is hot add onions.
Fry till the edges start to turn golden brown (approx 10 minutes).
Add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf, fry for another 1 minute.
Add ginger, garlic, green chilly and turmeric and fry for another 1 minute.
Add flour and salt and stir in for another 1 minute.
Add fish, pour water just to cover and simmer for 3 minutes (until fish is part cooked).
Add coconut milk, bring to simmer and cook for further 2-3 minutes (until fish is cooked through).
Sharpen with lime juice.

PS: Serve with boiled Basmati rice.