Ayala Curry Recipe | How to make ayala (mackerel) curry

Ayala Curry Recipe | How to make ayala (mackerel) curry

Traditional Kerala Ayala curry recipe

Ayala curry is a traditional side dish of Kerala. Mackerel (ayala) and sardine (mathi) are the most commonly used fishes in Kerala, especially the Malabar area. Both of these two fishes are very healthy and nutritious. We can make lots of dishes with ayala and mathi like curry, fry, semi gravy in banana leaf, stir fry etc…

Meen ada (Fish momos) is one of the delicious snack made with mackerel. I have uploaded the video of meen ada on my Youtube channel, please have a look if you need the recipe. You can also check for my other ayala / mackerel dishes here

Ayala Pollichathu Recipe with step by step photos

Mackerel curry with roasted coconut and mango | Varutharacha ayala curry

Ayala Vattichathu (Mackerel curry)

Mackerel Masala(Ayala Masala)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Malabar area we prepare fish curry with tamarind. Most of the people don’t like the taste of kudam puli (pot tamarind). But kudam puli is healthier than tamarind and having lots of health benefits like it helps in digestion, weight loss etc… But here I made this curry with tamarind. You can also use pot tamarind for this curry.

I prepared this curry in a special way that the fish pieces cooked with spices and tamarind first and then added masala in to it. If you do the first step(cooking the fish pieces with spices) overnight, it will be tastier for the next day so that the sour taste get into the fish pieces properly. Hope you all will try this ayala curry. Please try it out and let me know how it went out for you.

You can also check for some other delicious fish recipes like

How to make ayala curry

Ingredients

1/2 kg of Mackerel(ayala)
1 cup of sliced shallots/onion
3 no of Tomato
4 no of sliced Green chilli
2 tbsp. of Ginger garlic paste
1 lemon sized tamarind
2 springs of Curry leaves
2 tbsp. of kashmiri chilli powder/chilli powder
1/2 spn. of Turmeric powder
1 spn. of Oil
1/4 spn. of Fenugreek seeds
Salt to taste
1 cup of water

Method

Step 01

Take a clay pot and add fish pieces along with 1 tbsp. of chilli powder,1/2 spn. of turmeric powder,1 tbsp of ginger-garlic paste,curry leaves,salt and tamarind juice. Add 1/2 cup of water and cook till the gravy thickens without covering the pan(Be careful that the fish pieces should not be fully cooked). Keep aside for overnight or 2-3 hours for better results (You can also make curry as soon as the fish pieces get cooked).

Step 02

Heat oil in another pot. Add fenugreek seeds.

Step 03

Add chopped small onion,green chillies and curry leaves.Fry well in low flame.

Step 04

when onion get fried, add ginger garlic paste. Saute for 5 min.

Step 05

Add tomatoes and cook till tomatoes become mushy.

Step 06

Add remaining red chilli powder and turmeric powder. Fry for 1-2 minutes in low flame.

Step 07

When oil starts to come out the masala transferred this to fish pieces.

Step 08

Add one cup of water and mix carefully. Cook in medium flame for 5 minutes.

Step 09

Once the gravy thickens, remove from the flame. Add curry leaves and cover the pan for 5 minutes.

Mathi achar(sardine pickle)

Ayala pollichathu with step by step photos
Varutharacha ayala curry (mackerel with roasted coconut)
Mathi curry
Ayala masala
Fish biriyani
Mathi peera.
Fish cutlet
Mathi(sardine) pollichathu
Mathi thengapaal curry(sardine in coconut milk)
Meen ada(Fish momos)