Diu dried fish curry
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Sun-dried fish or small dried prawns simmered with onion, tomato, garlic and chilli, a strong-flavoured curry of the Diu fishing households.
Region: Diu and DamanOccasion: Monsoon months; everyday mealsTime: 40 minServes: 4Non-vegetarian
Ingredients
- 150 g dried fish or dried small prawns
- 2 tbsp oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped; 8 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1½ tsp red chilli powder, ½ tsp turmeric, 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 small potato, cubed (optional)
- Salt (go easy, the fish is salty) and coriander leaves
Method
- Soak the dried fish in warm water for 15 minutes, rinse well and drain. Clean dried prawns of heads and tails.
- Heat the oil and fry the onions and garlic until golden.
- Add the tomatoes and spice powders and cook until the oil separates.
- Add the dried fish, potato and about 1½ cups water. Simmer for 15 minutes until the fish is soft and the gravy thick.
- Taste before adding salt. Garnish with coriander and serve with rice or millet bhakri.
History
Women in Diu’s fishing villages traditionally sort, salt and sun-dry part of the catch, which keeps for months.
Significance
Dried fish is the main source of protein in the rainy season when the boats do not go out, and selling it is a source of income for fishing families.