Andhra Chepala Pulusu(Fish pulusu, fish cooked in Tamarind sauce)

Chepala Pulusu is fresh fish cooked in a tangy tamarind sauce with freshly ground spices.This particular dish tastes best the next day (after the fish pieces are soaked in the tamarind and spice juices) served with hot steamed white rice and sliced onions.
Chepa Pulusu,which is my Mother-in-laws specialty dish.she cooks awesome so that every Non-vegetarian enjoys the dish.

Here are the Ingredients for the Dish







Ingredients:

7-8 fish fillets (catfish or tilapia)
1 cup finely chopped onions
4 slit green chillis
1 1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp cumin pwd
1 tsp coriander pwd
1 1/2 tsp red chilli pwd
4 tbsp tamarind extract
1/4 tsp turmeric pwd
10-12 curry leaves
1 big lemon-sized tamarind pulp (soak tamarind in 2 cups of warm water and extract thick juice)
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves
salt to taste
1/2 cup oil
menthu podi(fenugreek powder)

Tempering:
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds


Directions

Heat oil in a wide pan and add the mustard seeds and let them splutter.Add the cumin seeds and let it brown.Add the curry leaves and stir for a few seconds.
Now add the chopped onions and fry on medium heat till the onions turn transparent.

Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for 3 mts.Add the turmeric pwd,coriander pwd,cumin pwd,red chilli pwd and salt and fry for a minute.Now carefully place the cleaned fish pieces in the pan,let it fry for 3 min on both sides.
Now add the tamarind extract and bring it to boil.
cover pan with a lid for 3 mts.
Add the green chillis,menthu podi(its must for fish curry). Turn the fish pieces over and cook.Cover and cook on low heat for 10 mts.Let the sauce thicken and till the oil seperates or leaves the sides of the vessel.Adjust salt and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

Note:Do not stir too much lest the fish pieces break and be gentle while stirring the fish pieces.Serve it after a couple of hours of cooking with Rice