Fish Pulusu Recipe (Chepala Pulusu)

Fish Pulusu is a traditional Andhra style stewed fish that’s a staple in the Telugu speaking households. It is spicy, hot and tangy with a thin or runny stew/ sauce. It is usually eaten with rice but also goes well with chapati or parathas. In this post I share my Mom’s popular recipe to make fish pulusu. Plan and make this ahead because this tastes fantastic the next day or at least after 3 to 4 hours.

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About Fish Pulusu

Everyone has a signature dish and this one is my Mom’s. Growing up we heard a lot of our friends and family members always complimented her Fish pulusu, Garelu, Pulihora and Masala Vada. Though this is not how the dish is made traditionally, appreciations were endless on how good the pulusu tasted.

Like the traditional dish, she would use tamarind, red chili powder, turmeric etc. But the secret ingredient was the poppy seeds, which gave a new twist, texture and flavor to the pulusu. But I know a pulusu is tamarind based and has fenugreek seeds or powder as the flavouring ingredient. It does not use garam masala so the fishy flavor is kept intact.

But she used a mild garam masala which is not as strong as the North Indian blend. It just had coriander, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper and cardamoms. These spices cut down the fishy smell and infuses mild spicy flavors to the dish.

If you are wondering, will this taste like the traditional pulusu? I can say this is an upgraded version of the pulusu and tastes better. It still has the flavor and taste of the tamarind with many more flavors infused from the spices. The pulusu doesn’t taste anything like a creamy curry because a small amount of the poppy seeds are used.

What to use in the absence of poppy seeds? (because they are not available in many countries.) They are not available in Singapore so I make this with cashew paste/ coconut. Other option is to use a little coconut milk. It tastes super good and delicious.

For more Fish recipes
Fish curry
Easy fish fry
Fish vepudu
Dum style fish biryani

Photo Guide

How to make Fish Pulusu (stepwise photos)

Preparation

1. Marinate the fish with red chili powder, turmeric, salt and lemon juice. Set aside for 15 minutes while you prep up the rest. Soak tamarind in hot water. When softened, squeeze with your fingers, extract the juice and filter it. Set this aside. Heat oil in a wide pan (no kadai here). Add the whole spices and when they begin to sizzle, add curry leaves, onions and chilies. Saute until the onions turn golden.

2. While the onions fry, make a fine paste of cashews or roasted poppy seeds or raw coconut with little water. Set aside. Read notes in the recipe card to prep up this.

Make Chepala Pulusu

3. Add ginger garlic paste to the onions and fry until the raw smell is gone. Place the fish pieces and fry for 3 minutes on each side, turn with a spatula. Be careful, we don’t want to break them.

4. Add garam masala, red chili powder and more salt. Pour the tamarind juice all over the fish and cook covered for 3 to 4 minutes. Do not stir them till the end because they will break. Gently swirl the pan to coat the fish with the tamarind juices.

5. Pour water just enough to partially cover the pieces. Bring it to a boil and simmer until the fish is cooked through. You know it is cooked when the fish flakes easily with the prick of a fork. Taste test and add more tamarind water or salt to taste. Add cashew/coconut/ poppy paste to the boiling pulusu. Swirl gently and cook till the pulusu begins to bubble up. Add coriander leaves with the stalks and Switch off the stove. Discard the coriander stalks while serving.

Serve Andhra style fish pulusu with rice or chapati.

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Recipe Card

Fish Pulusu (Chepala Pulusu)

4.83 from 46 votes

This Andhra style Fish Pulusu is stewed fish with tamarind and spices. It is tangy, saucy, spicy and slightly hot. Serve it over rice or with chapati.

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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time15 minutes minutes

Cook Time25 minutes minutes

Total Time40 minutes minutes

Servings4

AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

Marinade

• ▢ 1 kg firm fish cut to thick pieces (check the pics for the size)
• ▢ ½ teaspoon red chili powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon turmeric
• ▢ ⅓ teaspoon salt (½ teaspoon more to add later)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon Lemon juice

Other Ingredients

• ▢ 1 sprig curry leaves
• ▢ 1 cup onions finely chopped
• ▢ 2 to 3 green chilies slit
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• ▢ 8 stalks coriander leaves with tender stems
• ▢ 4 to 5 tablespoons oil
• ▢ ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili powder (use as needed, it can be very hot)
• ▢ 2 teaspoons garam masala (adjust to taste)
• ▢ 2 to 3 tablespoons Tamarind or as needed (soaked in ¾ cup hot water)
• ▢ 10 cashew nuts or 2 tbsps poppy seeds or ½ cup raw coconut or coconut milk

Whole spices (optional except cumin)

• ▢ 1 Bay leaf
• ▢ 4 cloves
• ▢ 1 inch cinnamon
• ▢ ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• ▢ 1 green cardamom

Instructions

Preparation

• ▢
  Marinate the cleaned fish pieces with lemon juice, salt, turmeric and red chili powder. Set aside up to 15 mins while you prep up the rest.
• ▢
  Soak tamarind in hot water until soft. Later squeeze with your fingers and strain to extract thick clean juice. Grind cashews with ¼ cup water to a smooth puree. If you want to use poppy seeds or coconut read notes section below.

How to make Fish Pulusu

• ▢
  Heat a heavy bottomed wide pan with oil, add whole spices. When they begin to sizzle add curry leaves, green chilies and onions.
• ▢
  Saute until the onions turn golden. Add ginger garlic paste, sauté for a min.
• ▢
  Place the fish pieces and fry on a medium high for 3 mins. Turn carefully to the other side and fry for another 3 mins. Remember not to stir till the end else they can break.
• ▢
  Sprinkle garam masala, salt and more chili powder, Pour tamarind juice all over the pieces. Cover and simmer for 2 to 3 mins.
• ▢
  Pour water just enough to partially cover the pieces. Do not add a lot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for just 4 to 5 mins on a medium flame, until the fish is cooked through.
• ▢
  Add the cashew/coconut and tilt the pan slightly to one side and get over the pulusu on to the pieces. Swirl gently & let cook until it begins to bubble. Taste test and add more tamarind or salt if you want. Add the coriander with the stalks as is and cover. Turn off and discard the coriander leaves before serving.
• ▢
  Serve Andhra fish pulusu with rice or roti.

Notes

1. If you chose to use poppy seeds: Dry roast and grind poppy seeds to a fine paste. First powder the seeds finely, then add water and make a paste else your poppy seeds will remain coarse and you will get it in the mouth while you eat.
2. If you choose to use grated coconut, grind coconut with ¼ cup of water and extract the milk. Discard the pulp. Take care not to add too much water while grinding.
3.  Ensure that you use a wide pan, like a pressure pan. Do not crowd the pieces. 
4. Do not stir or mix the curry too much while cooking. This will cause the pieces to break.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts

Fish Pulusu (Chepala Pulusu)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 311 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 125mg42%

Sodium 147mg6%

Potassium 891mg25%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 52g104%

Vitamin A 120IU2%

Vitamin C 14.7mg18%

Calcium 103mg10%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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