Fish and prawn curry from the land of the coconuts
This is a super comforting curry that is lovely and flavoursome and not hot spicey – perfect for both summer and winter. I use salmon as it’s a firm fish, which holds better when cooked in a sauce, plus I try and give Zahara salmon once a week – I don’t believe in superfoods, but I do know that salmon is great for brain development and is super low in polluting mercury, so it’s a must have salmon once a week for us. The prawns are a little tough and need a bit of chewing, so use biggish ones when little one is young so they can suck them and then cut them up small when they are a little older. The curry is a classic Kerala curry with a base of coconut milk, tomatoes and mild spices. Kera means coconut and alam means land in Malayalam – land of the coconuts, probably due to the abundance of coconut trees.
Makes enough for 2 grown-ups and a little-one
Ingredients
1 cinnamon stick
2 garlic cloves crushed
1 tsp grated ginger
1 red onion cut in thin strips
¼ tsp turmeric
½ tsp smashed corriander seeds
1 tsp cumin
¼ tsp garam masala
8 curry leaves
1 tin (400ml) coconut milk
400g tomatoes chopped into quarters
100g fresh baby spinach
350-400g fresh salmon cut into largish chunks (3-4cm cubed)
150g pre-cooked and peeled prawns
2tbsp olive oil
Method
1. Heat oil in a large pan over a medium heat, fry the cinnamon stick for around a minute. Add onions and cook on low heat for around 5 mins until they are soft.
2. Add tomatoes and cook on a low-medium heat with a lid on, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. The tomatoes should soften and start to break-up, release juices.
3. Add ginger, garlic, spice, curry leaves – stir through cooking for 30 seconds.
4. Add coconut milk and spinach – turn up heat, bring to boil then immediately turn down heat so it gently simmers with the lid on, for around 5 mins.
5. Add salmon and prawns, coat in sauce, and pop lid on – cook on a simmer for around 5-8 mins, stirring occasionally. Check the salmon is cooked through by cutting open a large chunk.
Tips
I don’t believe in superfoods, but I do know that salmon is great for brain development and is super low in polluting mercury, so it’s a must have salmon once a week for us. The prawns are a little tough and need a bit of chewing, so use biggish ones when little one is young so they can suck them and then cut them up small when they are a little older.
Facts
The curry is a classic Kerala curry with a base of coconut milk, tomatoes and mild spices. Kera means coconut and alam means land in Malayalam – land of the coconuts, it’s nickname, probably due to the abundance of coconut trees.