• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
PLATE TO PALATE
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • Strawberry cupcake with strawberry filling served on a serving plate.
    Strawberry cupcakes with strawberry filling.
  • A bowl of vegetarian laksa soup without tofu.
    Vegetarian Laksa Soup Without Tofu
  • A jar of tomato chilli jam.
    Easy Tomato Chilli Jam
  • Kale apple banana smoothie in a jar.
    Kale Apple Banana Smoothie
  • ash-gourd-thoran-kumbalanga-thoran
    Ash Gourd Recipe/Kumbalanga Thoran/Ash Gourd Thoran
  • Blueberry apple breakfast muffins.
    Blueberry Apple Breakfast Muffins
  • Fried eggplant on a serving dish.
    Brinjal Fry/ Fried Eggplant Recipe
  • Double chocolate chip cookies served on a plate.
    Double Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Chilling
  • Orange Cardamom Shortbread Cookies
  • Close up shot of Chettinad mutton kulambu in a serving dish.
    Chettinad Mutton Kulambu
  • Close shot of no bake cherry cheesecake.
    No-Bake Cherry Cheesecake With Condensed Milk
  • Sura puttu on a plate.
    Sura Puttu/ Fish Puttu/ Meen Puttu
Home » Seafood

Nethili Meen Kulambu/ Anchovies Fish Curry/ Easy Meen Curry

Published: Jan 20, 2023 by JAYANTHY · This post may contain amazon or my other affiliate links · 2 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This Nethili Meen kulambu/ Anchovies fish curry is spicy, tangy, and delicious. It is the base fish curry, and any variety of fish goes well with this curry. It pairs well with piping hot steamed rice and south Indian breakfast like idli, dosa, appam, etc.

Nethili fish are called Anchovies in English, Nethallu in Telugu, and Kozhuva in Malayalam. It is a small variety of fish and tastes so good.

A simple and tasty fish recipe made with a handful of simple ingredients in the pantry. It is spicy, tangy, and delicious with small nethili ( anchovies ).

This Nethili ( Anchovy )Meen Kulambu is a traditional fish curry from Tamil Nadu ( South India ). The preparation of kulambu (curry) varies according to different states.

Ingredients need for this recipe

  • anchovies
  • tamarind
  • onion
  • garlic
  • tomatoes
  • fenugreek
  • cumin
  • mustard seeds
  • chilli powder
  • turmeric powder
  • oil
  • salt
  • curry leaves

How to make Nethili Meen Kulambu (Anchovy Fish Curry)?

It is a simple recipe to make in under thirty minutes. It all needs a simple handful of ingredients for this recipe. The main ingredient for this recipe is tamarind. The tamarind makes this kulambu/ curry tangy and delicious. If you love tanginess, then this recipe is for you. Also, if you are not a lover of tanginess, use more tomatoes and less tamarind.

Let’s see a brief preparation of this recipe. Firstly, wash anchovies well with turmeric to avoid a fishy smell, and keep it aside. In a frying pan or wok, add fenugreek and cumin. Dry roast it for two to three minutes and keep it aside. Grind it to coarse powder when it is cooled.

In the same pan, add oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds, and let it splutter. Next, add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until it turns translucent. Now add tomatoes and wait until it turns mushy.

Add turmeric powder, chili powder, and salt to taste and mix well. Now add the desired quantity of tamarind pulp and water. Let it boil until the raw smell of tamarind disappears.

Add in washed Nethili ( Anchovies) and cook for five minutes. It hardly takes a few minutes to cook. Cover the lid and let the kulambu/ curry thicken, and the oil separates on top of the curry. Finally, sprinkle the coarse fenugreek and cumin powder and switch off the heat. Delicious, tangy Nethili (Anchovy) Meen Kulambu/Fish Curry is ready to serve with hot rice, idli, dosa, and appam.

Some Seafood Recipes You May Like To Try

Vanjaram Fish Fry

Nethili/ Anchovy Fry

Crab Curry

Sankara Meen Curry/Kuzhambu,Red Snapper Curry

Simple /Easy Fish Fry/South Indian Style

Fish Manchurian

Prawn Fry /Fried Shrimp

Let’s see step-by-step preparation of Nethili Meen Kulambu/ Anchovy Fish Curry?

In a frying pan or wok, dry roast fenugreek seeds and cumin on low, medium heat for two to three minutes and keep it aside.

When it is cooled grind it to a coarse powder in a mixer grinder or food processor

In the same pan, add oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds, and let it splutter. Next, add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until it turns translucent.

Now add tomatoes and wait until it turns mushy.

Add turmeric powder, chili powder, and salt to taste and mix well.

Cook it for two to four minutes until the masala powder cooks well in the oil.

Now add the desired quantity of tamarind pulp mixed with water. Let it boil until the raw smell of tamarind disappears.

Add in washed Nethili ( Anchovies) and cook for five minutes. It hardly takes a few minutes to cook. Cover the lid and let the kulambu/ curry thicken, and the oil separates on top of the curry.

Finally, sprinkle the coarse fenugreek and cumin powder and switch off the heat. Garnish it with curry leaves.

Delicious, tangy Nethili (Anchovy) Meen Kulambu/Fish Curry is ready to serve with hot rice, idli, dosa, and appam.

I serve it with piping hot rice with an egg omelet as a side dish. The best combo I love to have whenever I make fish kulambu/curry.

What to serve with Nethili Meen Kulambu/ Fish Curry?

Serve nethili kulumbu with rice, idli, dosa, and appam. My choice is rice, idli, and dosa. Always fish kulambu tastes great the next day. So you can make them a day prior and enjoy them.

Variations

You can use any variety of fish, prawn, or crab for this curry. Vegetarians can use okra, potato, or yam as per their choice.

If you love tangy tamarind, skip tomatoes, and use only tamarind. I love to use both tomatoes and tamarind for this curry.

You can swap Kokum ( Malabar tamarind ) and mango in place of tomatoes and regular tamarind.

Adding shallots in place of onions adds extra taste to the kulambu/ curry.

If you make this recipe, please let me know what you think! I would appreciate you leaving a star rating and comment below, which means a lot to me. Happy Cooking!

Nethili Meen Kulambu/ Anchovy Fish Curry

Jayanthy Asokan
This Nethili Meen kulambu ( curry ) is spicy, tangy, and delicious. It is the base fish curry, and any variety of fish goes well. It pairs well with piping hot steamed rice and south Indian breakfasts like idli, dosa, appam, etc.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course, sides
Cuisine Indian
Servings 4 people
Calories 328.1 kcal

Equipment

non-stick fry pan

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g anchovies
  • 50 g tamarind pulp ( thick pulp mixed with 1 cup of water )
  • 2 onion ( medium sized )
  • 15 cloves garlic
  • 2 tomatoes ( ripe )
  • 1 tablespoon fenugreek
  • 2 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 teaspoon chilli powder ( to taste )
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 4 tablespoon oil ( vegetable or sesame oil)
  • ½ teaspoon salt ( to taste )
  • 2 sprig curry leaves
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • In a frying pan or wok, dry roast fenugreek seeds and cumin on low, medium heat for two to three minutes and keep it aside.
  • When it is cooled grind it to a coarse powder in a mixer grinder or food processor
  • In the same pan, add oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds, and let it splutter. Next, add chopped onion and garlic and sauté until it turns translucent.
  • Now add tomatoes and wait until it turns mushy.
  • Add turmeric powder, chili powder, and salt to taste and mix well.
  • Cook it for two to four minutes until the masala powder cooks well in the oil.
  • Now add the desired quantity of tamarind pulp mixed with water. Let it boil until the raw smell of tamarind disappears.
  • Add in washed Nethili ( Anchovies) and cook for five minutes. It hardly takes a few minutes to cook. Cover the lid and let the kulambu/ curry thicken, and the oil separates on top of the curry.
  • Finally, sprinkle the coarse fenugreek and cumin powder and switch off the heat. Garnish it with curry leaves.
  • Delicious, tangy Nethili (Anchovy) Meen Kulambu/Fish Curry is ready to serve with hot rice, idli, dosa, and appam.
  • I serve it with piping hot rice with an egg omelet as a side dish. The best combo I love to have whenever I make fish kulambu/curry.

Nutrition

Serving: 1personCalories: 328.1kcalCarbohydrates: 22.6gProtein: 18.9gFat: 19.1gSaturated Fat: 2.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10.4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 394.6mgPotassium: 730.2mgFiber: 3.9gSugar: 9.1gVitamin A: 781.7IUVitamin C: 36.8mgCalcium: 199.6mgIron: 6.4mg
Keyword nethi meen kulambu, anchovy fish curry, nethili kulambu
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
How To Make Vanjaram fish fry/ King fish fry
Vanjaram Fish Fry/King Fish Fry is a simple and easy fish fry recipe prepared in a few minutes. It needs just a few spice powders which, are readily available in your pantry.
Check out this recipe
Please follow and like us:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon

More Seafood

  • Close up shot of spicy prawn masala curry without coconut.
    Spicy Prawn Masala Curry Without Coconut
  • Nethili Varuval/ Anchovies Fry
    Nethili varuval/ Anchovies fry/ How to make Easy Anchovies fry
  • Vanjaram Fish Fry/King Fish Fry
    How To Make Vanjaram fish fry/ King fish fry
  • Crab Curry/ Nandu Masala
    Crab Curry /Nandu Masala Recipe

Filed Under: Seafood, Sides

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leander Fernandes

    January 25, 2023 at 3:48 am

    5 stars
    Nice tangy spicy anchovies curry
    Flavorsome ideed

    Reply
    • JAYANTHY

      January 26, 2023 at 1:01 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
5 from 1 vote

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Jayanthy! Growing up cooking with my mom gave me the opportunity to learn some of my family’s traditional heirloom recipes, I’m very happy and proud to share those unique comfort food recipes here with great honor.

More about me →

Popular

  • A slice of cherry chocolate brownies on a serving plate.
    Cherry Chocolate Brownies
  • Fruit salad with custard in a serving bowl.
    Fruit Salad With Custard Recipe
  • Watermelon juice with lemon and ginger in a glass.
    Watermelon juice with Lemon and Ginger (Summer drinks)
  • Basil (sabja) seed drink.
    Basil Seed Drink (Sabja Seed Drink)
  • No-bake mango cheesecake slice on a plate.
    The Ultimate No-Bake Mango Cheesecake Recipe
  • Carrot Cake Traybake/ Easy Spiced Healthy Carrot Cake
  • lemon and coconut loaf cake
    Lemon and Coconut Cake/ Simple Lemon Coconut Loaf Cake
  • Cherry coconut cake on a plate.
    Cherry And Coconut Cake/ Easy Coconut Cherry Cake.

Footer

↑ back to top

About Newsletter

  • Privacy Policy. Sign Up!

Contact

  • Contact
  • About

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023Plate to Palate by Jayanthy Asokan

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.