Sardines in tamarind and tomato gravy (Matthi Pulimolg kutaan)

Ingredients

Sardines                      8 whole

Onions, diced              1 medium

Tomatoes, diced          1 large

Turmeric                      ½ tspn

Chilli powder              1 tbspn

Green chillies, slit        3-4

Ginger, chopped         1 inch

Tamarind juice            lemon size

Coconut oil                 1 tbspn

Crushed Pepper corns ½ tspn

Salt for taste

Curry leaves

Method

Marinate the sardines in salt, turmeric and red chilly powder for 10 min

Pour the tamarind juice into an earthen vessel (if possible), add chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger and green chillies and ring it to boil

Add a pinch of turmeric, a tspn of redchilli powder and ½ tspn of salt and cook until the onions and tomatoes are soft

Add the marinated fish pieces and allow the fish to cook in the sauce by reducing heat to a simmer

Once the fish is cooked, drizzle some coconut oil and add fresh curry leaves

Sprinkle some crushed peppercorn and serve with hot rice