There are many ways to make fish curry recipe. Have you ever tried Meen Theeyal recipe in your kitchen? If not this is the right time to give it a try. Through this post, I am going to show you the best way to make Meen Theeyal recipe at home.
This fish theeyal dish is one of the unique yet most favorite dishes among Sri Lankans, especially among Tamil people.
Basically, it’s a fish dish without coconut milk and curry powder. It’s a sour taste dish.
People make this whole fish recipe for lunch, but you can have this for dinner as well.
This is one of the easiest and quickest fish dishes.
Alright, let’s see how to make the best Meen Theeyal recipe in Jaffna style without coconut milk or curry powder.
My Favorite Combos
1. This Recipe + Rice + Spinach Curry + Long Bean Curry + Fish Fry
2. This Recipe + String Hoppers + Fish Sothi + Coconut Sambol
3. This Recipe + Pittu + Dhal Curry + Coconut Sambol + Fish Cutlet
Whole Meen Theeyal Recipe
Ingredients
- Whole fish – 2 medium size
- Fenugreek seeds – ½ teaspoon
- Turmeric powder – ½ teaspoon
- Sugar – ¼ teaspoon
- Salt – As you need
- Thin tamarind juice – 200ml
- Red chili flakes – 1 tablespoon
- Onion – 50g to 75g
- Garlic cloves – 5 or 6
- Green chili – 4 or 5
- Cooking oil – 3 tablespoons
- Water – As you need
Instructions
1. Take two whole fish and clean it. Ensure all the scales are removed. Rinse well for at least 2 to 3 times. Score the fish down to the bones on both sides using a sharp knife as shown in the picture below.
2. Get ready with fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder, sugar, and salt.
3. Also, get ready with the thin tamarind juice.
4. Take a whole tablespoon of red chili flakes.
5. Slice the onions. I use small onion or shallot which gives a good taste to this dish. If it is hard to find shallots, you can use the large onion.
6. Slice the garlic cloves and green chilies.
7. Place the cooking pan on the stove and put the fishes on it. Add all the ingredients together. Add the water until the liquid level reaches half of the fish as shown in the picture below.
8. Switch in the flame and cook covered under medium flame for 6 to 8 minutes.
9. Now take off the lid and flip the fishes to the next side. Again cook covered for 6 to 8 minutes under low flame.
10. Taste the gravy and add salt if needed.
11. This is how to make the best whole Meen Theeyal Recipe in Jaffna style. Serve and enjoy this delicious Sri Lankan fish dish.
Notes
1. If you don’t like spiciness, reduce the amount of red chili flakes.
2. Add tamarind juice for your sour taste.
3. Try to use the medium-sized fatty fish for this recipe.
Printable Recipe Card
- Whole fish - 2 medium size
- Fenugreek seeds - ½ teaspoon
- Turmeric powder - ½ teaspoon
- Sugar - ¼ teaspoon
- Salt - As you need
- Thin tamarind juice - 200ml
- Red chili flakes - 1 tablespoon
- Onion - 50g to 75g
- Garlic cloves - 5 or 6
- Green chili - 4 or 5
- Cooking oil - 3 tablespoons
- Water - As you need
- Take two whole fish and clean it. Ensure all the scales are removed. Rinse well for at least 2 to 3 times. Score the fish down to the bones on both sides using a sharp knife.
- Get ready with fenugreek seeds, turmeric powder, sugar, and salt.
- Also, get ready with the thin tamarind juice.
- Take a whole tablespoon of red chili flakes.
- Slice the onions. I use small onion or shallot which gives a good taste to this dish. If it is hard to find shallots, you can use the large onion.
- Slice the garlic cloves and green chilies.
- Place the cooking pan on the stove and put the fishes on it. Add all the ingredients together. Add the water until the liquid level reaches half of the fish.
- Switch in the flame and cook covered under medium flame for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Now take off the lid and flip the fishes to the next side. Again cook covered for 6 to 8 minutes under low flame.
- Taste the gravy and add salt if needed.
- This is how to make the best whole Meen Theeyal Recipe in Jaffna style. Serve and enjoy this delicious Sri Lankan fish dish.
2. Add tamarind juice for your sour taste.
3. Try to use the medium-sized fatty fish for this recipe.
Here is the video clip of this recipe.
What do you think about this Sri Lankan Meen Teeyal recipe without coconut milk and curry powder? If you have all the ingredients give it a try, I am sure you will like it.
If you have any questions or suggestions use the comment box below. Also, you can share this delicious whole fish dish with your friends and family by clicking the social share buttons below.
Thank you for this unique fish recipe. I will try this for sure.