Irumban Puli (Bilimbi) - Mathi (Sardine) Fish Curry Recipe

Irumban puli is a common fruit in the villages of Kerala and you can try many recipes with it. Locally it is also call pulinchikka. Bilimbi fruit is rich in iron content. This seasonal sour fruit can include in curries instead of mango. You can make various irumban puli recipes not only with tender irumban puli but also ripe bilimbi fruits. In this post I am going to give a recipe idea - 'irumban puli - mathi/chaala fish curry for your today's lunch. It is proper matching for rice and chapati. 

Sour irumban puli is a best pair with sardine/mathi/chaala fish. But I tried this with the fatty mackerels also. It was fantastic. When you feel the mangoes are too expensive, you can substitute with bilimbi. Try to make ' fish like irumban puli curry'. Don't excite! It is simple vegetarian dish without fish, but with the ingredients and masala mixture which is same as bilimbi fish curry recipe. It will be in my future post. 

Make Irumban Puli/Pulinchikka - Mathi/Chaala Recipe/Bilimbi Sardine Fish Curry:

Ingredients:

• Irumban puli fruits - 10 - 15 nos
• Sardine fishes - 5 nos
• Coconut - 1/2
• Chili Powder - 1 tsp
• Coriander powder - 3/4 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Green chilies - 4 nos
• Chopped ginger - 1/2 tsp
• Chopped onion - 1 tsp
• Coconut oil - 2 tsp
• Curry leaf - 2 strings 

Method of Preparation:

Wash the fishes. Cut them into small size. Clean the bilimbi fruits and cut each one into 4 long pieces. Grate the coconut. Grind it with chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder. Add some water for making paste. Place an earthen pot on fire. Put the pieces of Irumban puli and sardine fishes along with the ground masala, green chilli pieces and chopped ginger into the pot. Pour sufficient water to make proper fish recipe consistency. Add salt to taste. Allow boiling. Cook the fish well. Care to don't overcook and break the bilimbi pieces. Check the level of salt in the curry. When the curry comes into correct consistency level place it aside. Heat coconut oil in a pan fry the chopped onions and the curry leaves. Put it into the fish curry. Mix well. Serve the hot irumban puli/pulinchikka meen curry with mathi fish for your meal.