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    Nethili Meen Curry Recipe

    Last Updated On: Apr 14, 2025 by Aarthi

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    Kerala Style Nethili Meen Curry Recipe with step wise pictures. Nethili Meen kuzhambu made three different ways. One has coconut and one without coconut. I have a kerala style version of anchovies fish curry.

    Kerala Style Nethili Meen Curry Recipe

    Nethili meen kuzhambu is my husband all time favorite. This kerala style fish curry not only taste amazing but is super easy to make as well.

    About Nethili / Anchovies

    An anchovy is a small, common forage fish in the Engraulidae family. The majority of species are found in marine waters, but several will enter brackish water, and some are restricted to fresh water in South America. The Indian anchovy, also known as Hardenberg anchovy, is an oceanodromous ray-finned fish in the Engraulidae family. In Srilanka, it is known as handalla and is widely available in most markets
    and supermarkets. It is commonly used as a live or dead bait in the
    tuna fishing industry.

    What is Nethili Meen Kuzhambu

    Anchovies Fish Curry/ Nethili Meen Kulambu is a traditional South Indian fish curry recipe. The spicy, tangy, and flavorful Nethili fish curry pairs well with steamed rice or idly. Meen Vevichathu is what it is called in kerala. It is a spicy and delicious fish curry which is mainly tamarind based and taste so delicious. The main flavour for this comes from the unique sour ingredient called as kokum.

    Similar Recipes,
    Goan Fish Curry
    Anchovies Fish Curry
    Sardine Fish Curry
    Chettinad Fish Curry
    Malabar Fish Curry
    Mackerel Fish Curry

    Ingredients for Anchovies Fish Curry

    Anchovies / Nethili Meen :
    Polyunsaturated fatty acids are abundant in nethili fish. Netholis bone is high in calcium, which is beneficial to our bones as well. Nethili prevents cardiovascular disease and is beneficial to people who have heart problems.

    Tamarind Pulp  :
    Tamarind pulp is a thick tamarind extract. To make tamarind pulp at home, soak the tamarind pods in warm water for about 15-20 minutes, or until soft.

    Fennel seeds :
    Fennel seeds are the dried seeds of the fennel herb, and they resemble cumin seeds but are greener. They taste aniseed and have a warm, sweet aroma. They can be used alone or in spice blends like Chinese five-spice powder and Indian panch phoran.

    •  

    Hope you will give this a try and let me know how it turns out for you.

    Table of Contents

    • How to Make Kerala Style Nethili Fish Curry
    • Kerala Style Nethili Meen Curry With Step by Step Pictures
    • 📖 Recipe Card
    • Nethili Meen Curry Recipe | Nethili Meen Kuzhambu Recipe | Nethili Meen Kulambu
    • Nethili Meen Kuzhambu (with Coconut)
    • Nethili Meen Kuzhambu Recipe (Without Coconut)

    How to Make Kerala Style Nethili Fish Curry

    • Heat oil in a mud kadai. Add in mustard, dry red chillies and fenugreek seeds and let them sizzle.
    • Add in shallots, garlic, ginger, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Saute this for 3 mins or so.
    • Now lower the flame and add in spice powders. Saute this on low heat for around 5 mins. The spices will get toasted and colour will darken.
    • Now add in tamarind pulp and water. Add in salt and bring it to a boil.
    • Once it reaches a boil, add in fish and mix well. Add in some curry leaves
    • Cook this partially covered for 5 to 7 mins on medium high heat. The fish will be cooked by this time.
    • Now take it off the heat and cover with a lid. Let it sit for 2 to 4 hours for the flavours to develop. You can serve immediately as well, but it will taste wonderful if it sits for a while.
    • Now serve this with boiled tapioca or rice.

    Kerala Style Nethili Meen Curry With Step by Step Pictures

    1)Heat coconut oil in a pot

    2)Add in mustard seeds, cumin seeds and fenugreek seeds

    3)dry red chillies

    4)Add in curry leaves

    5)Add chopped onions

    6)ginger, garlic and green chillies

    7)Saute till golden

    8)Add in turmeric powder

    9)Add in kashmiri chilli powder and regular chilli powder

    10)cumin powder and coriander powder

    11)Mix well

    12)Cook this on medium heat for 4 to 5 mins till spices gets toasty

    14)Add in tamarind (kudam puli) which is soaked in water

    15)Mix well

    16)Add more water

    17)Add salt

    18)Bring it to a boil

    19)Add in nethili fish

    20)Simmer for 5 mins

    21)Done

    22)Serve

     

    📖 Recipe Card

    Nethili Meen Curry Recipe | Nethili Meen Kuzhambu Recipe | Nethili Meen Kulambu

    Nethili meen kuzhambu is my husband all time favorite. This kerala style fish curry not only taste amazing but is super easy to make as well. Kerala Style Nethili Meen Curry Recipe with step wise pictures. Nethili Meen kuzhambu made three different ways. One has coconut and one without coconut. I have a kerala style version of anchovies fish curry.
    3 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Author: Aarthi

    Ingredients

    • Anchovies / Nethili - 500 grams
    • Coconut Oil - ¼ cup
    • Mustard Seeds / Kaduku - 1 tsp
    • Dry Red Chilli - 1 broken
    • Fenugreek Seeds / Vendayam / Methi - ¼ tsp
    • Shallots / Sambar Onion - 20 peeled and sliced thinly
    • Garlic - 5 cloves chopped finely
    • Ginger - 2 cm piece chopped finely
    • Green Chilli - 2 slit
    • Curry leaves a big handful
    • Chilli powder - 1 tblsp or to taste
    • Kashmiri Chilli Powder - 3 tblspn
    • Coriander powder - 1 tblsp
    • Cumin powder - 1 tsp
    • Turmeric Powder / Manjal Podi - 1 tspSalt to taste
    • Kokum / Kodapuli - 3 piece or Tamarind Pulp - 2 tblspn
    • Water - 2 cups

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a earthernware kadai. Add in mustard, dry red chillies and fenugreek seeds and let them sizzle.
    • Add in shallots, garlic, ginger, curry leaves and turmeric powder. Saute this for 3 mins or so.
    • Now lower the flame and add in spice powders. Saute this on low heat for around 5 mins. The spices will get toasted and colour will darken.
    • Now add in tamarind pulp and water. Add in salt and bring it to a boil.
    • Once it reaches a boil, add in fish and mix well. Add in some curry leaves
    • Cook this partially covered for 5 to 7 mins on medium high heat. The fish will be cooked by this time.
    • Now take it off the heat and cover with a lid. Let it sit for 2 to 4 hours for the flavours to develop. You can serve immediately as well, but it will taste wonderful if it sits for a while.
    • Now serve this with boiled tapioca or rice.

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    Nethili Meen Kuzhambu (with Coconut)

     

    This fish curry is one of the recipe which i found on a cookbook and tried it immediately. The actual recipe name is nethili meen kootu, but i called it as simple nethili meen curry. 

    Similar Recipes,
    Goan Fish Curry
    Anchovies Fish Curry
    Sardine Fish Curry
    Chettinad Fish Curry
    Malabar Fish Curry
    Mackerel Fish Curry

     
     

    Preparation Time : 10 mins
    Cooking Time : 30 to 40 mins
    Serves : 5 to 6

    Ingredients for nethili meen kuzhambu 

    • Anchovies / Nethili Meen - 300 grams cleaned
    • Oil - 4 tblspn
    • Curry leaves a handful
    • Onions - 1 large size chopped finely
    • Tomatoes - 1 large chopped finely
    • Green Chillies - 2 slit
    • Chilli Powder - 1 tblspn or to taste
    • Coriander Powder / Malli Podi - 2 tblspn
    • Turmeric Powder / Manjal Podi - 1 tsp
    • Tamarind Pulp - 3 tblspn
    • Water - ½ cup
    • Salt to taste
    • Coriander leaves a handful finely chopped

    For Masala

    • Fresh Coconut - ½ cup grated    
    • Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tblspn
    • Fennel Seeds / Saunf / Sombu - 2 tsp

    Nethili Meen Kuzhambu with Coconut Preparation

    1. Grind the ingredients given for masala to a smooth paste. Set aside. Dissolve tamarind with some water and set aside.
    2. Heat oil in a earthernware pot. Add in curry leaves and fry for few sec.
    3. In goes onions, chillies and salt. Saute this till it gets light golden.
    4. Add in tomatoes and cook till it gets mushy.
    5. In goes spice powders and mix well. Add in coconut masala and cook till oil separates from the mix.
    6. Pour tamarind water and cook till oil floats on top.
    7. Add in fish and simmer for 5 to 8 mins.
    8. Garnish with coriander leaves and mix well.
    9. Serve.
     

    Pictorial:

     
    Take all your ingredients

     

    Clean your fish and set aside

     

    Take coconut in a blender

     

    add in fennel seeds

     

    ginger garlic paste or chopped ginger and garlic

     

    puree till smooth..Set aside

     

    Heat oil in a pot, add curry leaves

     

    add in onions and green chillies

     

    salt

     

    fry them 

     

    cook till they get light golden

     

    add in tomatoes

     

    cook till it gets mushy

     

    add in spice powders

     

    add in the coconut masala

     

    saute them

     

    cook them till oil separates and nice aroma comes from the masala

     

    pour in tamarind 

     

    mix well

     

    simmer till oil floats on top

     

    add in cleaned fish

     

    mix well

     

    cook them for 5 mins or so

     

    add coriander leaves

     

    mix that well

     

    Serve
     
     
     

    Nethili Meen Kuzhambu Recipe (Without Coconut)

     
     

    Making fish curries are one of the staple food of us. We make it on each saturday. My husbands favorite one is this fish curry. But to be frank i was totally bored to make that again and again. I wanted to make a curry that has no coconut in it. And this is the answer, It is made from the small anchovies and it tasted divine. The cool thing is you don't need coconut for it. My hubby tasted it and he liked it too. I hope you will love it too.

     

    Preparation Time : 10 mins
    Cooking Time : 30 mins
    Serves - 5 to 6

    Ingredients for Making Nethili Meen Kuzhambu without Coconut

    • Anchovies / Nethili Meen - 3 cups cleaned
    • Coconut Oil - 2 tblspn
    • Mustard Seeds / Kaduku - 1 tsp
    • Fenugreek Seeds / Vendayam - ½ tsp
    • Curry leaves - 1 spring + 1 spring
    • Onion - 1 large sliced thinly
    • Tomato - 2 large chopped finely
    • Brinjal - 1 large cubed
    • Mango - 1 small cubed
    • Chilli powder - 2 tsp
    • Pepper powder - 1 tsp
    • Coriander powder / Malli podi - 1 tblspn
    • Turmeric powder / Manjal podi - 1 tsp
    • Tamarind Pulp - 3 tblspn
    • Salt to taste

    How to Make Nethili Meen Kuzhambu without Coconut

    1. Heat a kadai with oil, when it is hot add in mustard, fenugreek and curry leaves.
    2. Add in onions and saute till it turns light golden.
    3. Now add in tomatoes and saute till oil separates. Add in salt and mix well.
    4. Now add in turmeric, chilli, coriander and pepper powder. Mix well.
    5. Add in brinjal, mangoes and mix well. Pour in some water and cover the pan. Cook for 10 mins till the brinjal is cooked and the sauce is thick.
    6. Add in tamarind pulp and mix well. Cover again and cook till oil separates.
    7. Now add in anchovies and cook for 5 to 10 mins.
    8. Throw in a handful of curry leaves and switch off the flame. Cover the pan till serving.
    9. Serve over rice.


    Take all your ingredients

     

    Clean some lovely anchovies

     

    Crackle some spices and curry leaves in oil

     

    Add in onions

     

    Saute till light golden

     

    Add in tomatoes

     

    Saute well

     

    Add in salt

     

    Cook till it turns mushy

     

    Add in spice powders

     

    Toss well

     

    Add in brinjal and mangoes

     

    Pour in some water

     

    Let it cook

     

    Cover and cook

     

    Cook till oil floats on top

     

    Add in tamarind

     

    Mix well

     

    Cover and simmer again

     

    Add in the fish

     

    Mix well

     

    Leave it to cook

     

    Throw in some more curry leaves

     

    Serve

     

    Enjoy with rice

     

    If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.

    Follow me on Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter for more Yummy Tummy inspiration.

    IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR ANYTHING FROM YUMMY TUMMY, MAKE SURE TO POST IT AND TAG ME SO I CAN SEE ALL OF YOUR CREATIONS!! #YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI AND @YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI ON INSTAGRAM!

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    35
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    « Manchatti Meen Kuzhambu Recipe
    Bang Bang Shrimp Recipe »
    Aarthi

    About Aarthi

    Over the past few years I’ve been on a mission to find and create recipes that I can make from scratch. I hope you enjoy the recipes on this blog as they are tried and true from my kitchen to yours!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tamilarasi Sasikumar

      at

      Looks so tempting.... lovely fish curry...

      Reply
    2. Corporate to Kitchen

      at

      I like these little fish. The kolambu looks nice.

      Reply
    3. Lyndsey Chapin

      at

      It sure looks like a lovely fish curry, and so full of flavor. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    4. Priya Suresh

      at

      Can get the aroma of this gravy from here itself, fingerlicking kuzhambu.

      Reply
    5. Bam's Kitchen

      at

      I am delighted to have found you on facebook and had to head over to check out your website. This dish looks absolutely delicious and I love your step by step photos. Looking forward to keeping in touch. Take Care, BAM

      Reply
    6. Goumathi

      at

      Hi
      Yummy Tummy. I have tried some of your recipes and suchly it has turn out to be good.

      I am going yo try this fish curry out today. As always hoping it will be good too. Well need your advice. If I have the ready made fish or chicken masalas, can I substitute with those masala powders which in your recepis.

      Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

      Goumathi

      Reply
    7. Goumathi

      at

      Hi!
      The fish curry turn out so well.

      Thanks for your advice.

      Goumathi

      Reply
    8. aisha

      at

      Help

      Reply
    9. aisha

      at

      Hi I need ur help in fish Cury

      Reply
    10. Aarthi

      at

      @aishaWat help?

      Reply
    11. Anonymous

      at

      Your recipes are really good.

      Reply
    12. Anonymous

      at

      Mouth watering recipe

      Reply
    13. Rohini Baskaran

      at

      Tried this recipe today.... It came out great.... I was not satisfied with d taste..untill i added d fish...n then...it took a great changeover...perfect balance... Temptingly tasty....

      Reply
    14. Meena .s

      at

      Tasty, I tried it and it was great. But I made it without using oil. Still it was nice and i added a small Brinjal. And I wish to tell you one thing that I now can cook a little bit only because of you, I learned rasam, nethili fish curry & peera, dhal curry, cauliflower kootu from you. I tried all of these for the first time with OK comments from my family. Because I never had cooked anything before... Aarthi love you have much. U r a good teacher...

      Reply
    15. Senthil T

      at

      I tried it now.....really awesome.... Thank u so much for posting this with yummy pics.....pics help me a lot...

      Reply
    16. Sudhak

      at

      Tried it and came out really well...awesome it was...thanks arthi

      Reply
    17. Alboni - Boni's Healthy Twists

      at

      Really very tempting ... feel like grabbing and eating. .. awesome !!! Plz visit my blog too and share your valuable comments. Thank you. http://Www.bonishealthytwists.blogspot.com

      Reply
    18. scunthorpe

      at

      Looks great. You are so lucky to have access to fresh anchovies. I might try this with fresh sardines.

      Reply
    19. Sarala Prathish

      at

      I regularly follow all your posts..it is really good and easy to follow with step wise pictorial demonstration which is indeed kind of very helpful. Thank you for the great dishes. I have a doubt can the same procedure be followed for every other fish or is it only for anchovies?...

      Reply
      • Aarthi

        at

        yes u can

        Reply
    20. Aishwarya

      at

      Pake motha sapenum pola erke sis 🐟🐟😋😋😋😋😋

      Reply
    21. Swetha

      at

      Tried this recipe today !!! Great taste and so flavourful... simple, quick reciple with easy ingredients... Thanks Arthi .

      Reply
    22. Athulya

      at

      Tried it now it’s tasty

      Reply
    3 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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