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    Home » Main Dish

    Easy Fish Curry with Alaska Cod

    Published: Mar 22, 2019 · Modified: Apr 7, 2020 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    470 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This fish curry with coconut milk is an easy dish packed with flavor. Flaky and tender Alaska cod simmered in a delicious onion and tomato curry sauce makes a perfect meal.

    We have seafood at least twice a week and you can find many of our favorite recipes on this blog. From pan seared halibut to lemon ginger shrimp orzo to oven baked salmon with olives and capers, our seafood game is quite strong! This fish curry recipe made with Alaska cod is so good and easy, you'll keep making it over and over again. It's spicy and warm, perfect with a bit of rice to make the most comforting fish curry ever!

    This fish curry with coconut milk is an easy dish packed with flavor. Flaky and tender Alaska cod simmered in a delicious onion and tomato curry sauce makes a perfect meal.

    This post is sponsored by Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. All opinions are mine.

    What I love about fish and seafood is that it's so versatile and it's easy to work with. There are so many ways to prepare fish and so many flavors you can use. Fish curry has turned into one of our favorites and I can't wait to share this recipe with you. This is a tomato and onion-based curry that's mild and not too spicy. It's very flavorful and makes a great weeknight dinner.

    Which fish is good for curry ?

    When making curry with fish, you need to use a fish that's firm and absorbs flavor well. I love using Alaska cod because it's moist and firm with distinctive large flakes and a slightly sweet flavor that compliments the curry very well. You can also use other types of white fish such as Alaska sablefish or flounder.

    white fish like cod is perfect for a creamy fish curry.

    What goes into fish curry?

    A good curry needs good spices. Here we have used a range of aromatic spices such as coriander, curry powder, paprika, turmeric and garam masala. These spices are added to a base of sautéed onion, garlic and ginger, Serrano pepper and tomatoes. I discarded the seeds of the Serrano pepper to keep the flavor more on the mild side. You can certainly use red chilies instead of Serrano peppers if that's what you have at hand.

    Coconut milk brings the curry together beautifully and adds great flavor and freshness to the whole dish. And lastly comes the fish; this time, I've used Alaska cod. That's all, a simple and easy curry recipe for you to make at home anytime you please.

    to make fish curry you need onion tomato herbs peppers spices and tomatoes

    How to make fish curry

    • Make the base: Heat ghee or olive oil in a pan. Sauté onion, garlic and fresh ginger in the pan until translucent. This usually takes between 4-6 minutes. Next, add the Serrano pepper that you've chopped very finely and follow with diced fresh tomatoes. Add in the spices, stir well and place the lid on. Let the vegetables and spices cook together for a few minutes to release their flavors.
    • Bring the curry together: Once the vegetables are soft, pour the coconut milk and water into the pan and stir well. Bring the curry to simmer and once it starts simmering, add the fish. Lower the heat and let the curry simmer and cook the cod for about 10 minutes until it's fully cooked. Garnish with some cilantro and serve.

    Pro tip: Wash your hands very well after seeding Serrano peppers and make sure not to touch your face. You don't want to experience the burn!

    saute onion and pepper then add tomatoes and spices add water and then fish.

    How do you thicken curry?

    One of the issues that might come up while making curry is the thickness of it. Usually when you have Indian style curry at restaurants, they're pretty thick and have a good texture and when you try to make them at home, sometimes you end up with a curry that doesn't present the same texture. To prevent that, you should use less water to begin with. I usually use about ⅓ to ½ cup water for this recipe and it works perfectly. The coconut milk thickens the curry and, if you like, you can always add heavy cream to make your curry even thicker.

    top fish curry with tomatoes lime and cilantro

    What to serve with coconut fish curry

    It's common to serve curry with a white rice of your choice, such as jasmine or basmati rice. You can also serve this cod curry with brown rice or naan.

    How to store the leftovers

    My recommendation is to serve this dish fresh and avoid having leftovers. If you end up with leftovers, store it in an airtight glass container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. 

    As for freezing, unfortunately this recipe does not freeze well as it loses texture and flavor and the fish might become a bit grainy. 

    a delicious fish curry is served with some white rice.

    Notes and tips for making this recipe

    • Use white or yellow onion to make cod curry as red onion has a distinct flavor that might affect the rest of the dish.
    • To make fish curry, please use fresh tomatoes as they have less juice than canned tomatoes. We don't want our curry to be too watery.
    • You can use fresh or frozen Alaska cod for this recipe. If using frozen cod, thaw it first as directed on the package.
    • Cut the cod into 1 ½ inch pieces before adding to the curry. Bite sized cod is easier to eat and cooks faster.
    • I always use fresh ginger and grate it right into the pan using a small grater without peeling it. Fresh ginger gives a nice kick to the dish so don't leave it out.

    More cod recipes:

    • Turkish baked cod
    • Pan seared cod with shallots
    • Parmesan baked cod 

    fresh easy fish curry is the perfect weeknight dinner.

    Alaska Cod Fish Curry

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    This fish curry with coconut milk is an easy dish packed with flavor. Flaky and tender Alaska cod simmered in a delicious onion and tomato curry sauce makes the perfect meal. 
    4.47 from 13 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 270 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon ghee or olive oil
    • 1 large onion finely chopped
    • 5 cloves garlic minced
    • ½ tablespoon fresh ginger grated or minced
    • 1 Serrano pepper seeds removed and finely diced
    • 2 tomatoes diced
    • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
    • ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder
    • 1 tsp paprika
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 tablespoon garam masala
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup coconut milk
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 ½ lb Alaska cod cut into 1 ½ inch chunks

    To serve:

    • Basmati rice
    • Lime

    Instructions
     

    • Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. 
    • Sauté onion. garlic and fresh ginger until translucent. 
    • Add in diced serrano pepper and cook for a minute. 
    • Stir in diced tomatoes and add coriander powder, cardamom, paprika, turmeric, garam masala and salt to the onion and tomato combination. 
    • Stir and cover the pan to let the vegetables and spices cook together for a few minutes. 
    • Pour in water and coconut milk. Bring it to a slow simmer. 
    • Add in chunks of Alaska cod and nestle them in the sauce. 
    • Let the curry simmer and the cod cook for about ten minutes until the fish is cooked completely. 
    • Serve warm with basmati rice, lime and fresh tomatoes. 

    Notes

    • Use white or yellow onion to make cod curry as red onion has a distinct flavor that might affect the rest of the dish.
    • To make fish curry, please use fresh tomatoes as they have less juice than canned tomatoes. We don't want our curry to be too watery.
    • You can use fresh or frozen Alaska cod for this coconut fish curry recipe. If using frozen cod, thaw it first as directed on the package.
    • Cut the cod into 1 ½ inch pieces before adding to the curry. Bite sized cod is easier to eat and cooks faster.
    • I always use fresh ginger and grate it right into the pan using a small grater without peeling it. Fresh ginger gives a nice kick to the dish so don't leave it out.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 270kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 32gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 685mgPotassium: 992mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 841IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 2mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meg

      August 16, 2020 at 4:13 pm

      3 stars
      It was pretty good. I was surprised bc I felt it didn’t have much flavor and I used smoked paprika instead of regular and veggie broth instead of water. I added some tamarind paste and coconut aminos and it took the flavor up a lot.

      Reply
    2. Henry Clark

      February 19, 2020 at 11:19 am

      Did you use whole fat canned coconut milk or the kind that you substitute for regular milk?

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        February 19, 2020 at 12:49 pm

        We used whole fat canned coconut milk. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. thisiswholesome

      January 27, 2020 at 12:04 pm

      5 stars
      I often eat cod fish because it's healthy and delicious but never tried it with curry. Super excited about this recipe!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        February 25, 2020 at 1:00 pm

        Hope you give this a try!

        Reply
    4. Carrie Robinson

      January 27, 2020 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      I just love a good curry! I don't think I have ever had a fish curry before though. Looks delicious! 🙂

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        February 25, 2020 at 12:59 pm

        Fish curry is so easy!

        Reply
    5. Traci

      January 27, 2020 at 11:28 am

      5 stars
      So much yum in this fish curry! It's truly the perfect weeknight recipe...totally hassle-free. Thanks for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
    6. Ashley

      January 27, 2020 at 11:22 am

      5 stars
      So delicious!!! The flavor that comes out of the spices is unbelievable -- thanks for sharing a recipe that will be in rotation for quite a while!

      Reply
    7. Tara

      January 27, 2020 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Such a gorgeous curry! I love all those flavors and how easily it comes together. Definitely the perfect use for that Alaska cod.

      Reply
    8. Jenni

      May 22, 2019 at 4:08 am

      5 stars
      This fish curry is so flavorful and easy to make! My family loved it and has asked me to make it again! Thank you for all the steps and the confidence that I could do it! This recipe is a gem!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        May 23, 2019 at 6:39 am

        Glad you enjoyed it Jenni! It's a fun weeknight dinner!

        Reply
    9. wilhelmina

      May 21, 2019 at 7:45 pm

      5 stars
      This is brimming with flavor! So easy to make and incredibly satisfying!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        May 23, 2019 at 6:39 am

        Thank you! Fish curry is so flavorful!

        Reply

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    470 shares