salmon curry recipe made in Indian style

Salmon Curry Recipe

By Swasthi on November 16, 2023, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Treat yourself to a delicious and flavorsome Salmon Curry! This easy and quick Indian curry is made by simmering salmon in an amazingly delicious spicy and tangy curry. Serve this salmon curry over quinoa, steamed Basmati rice or flavored rice like Ghee Rice, Jeera Rice or with flatbreads like Chapati, roti, Naan, Paratha or parotta. Made in true South Indian style, this Salmon Curry uses only pantry staples like onions, tomatoes, spices and herbs. You don’t need any bottled or canned curry paste to make it.

salmon curry recipe made in Indian style

Indian cuisine is diverse and is a reflection of various cultures and traditions. You will find every dish being made in numerous ways, with recipes varying by region, community and sometimes even by family.

This salmon curry is the way I make it at home and is not any region specific dish. I love this one particularly for the simplicity. It’s fairly healthy, minimally spiced and comes together in a flash!

For your convenience you can also make this ahead and refrigerate for up to 48 hours.

About Salmon Curry

Salmon curry is an Indian dish where pan seared salmon is cooked in a spicy and tangy curry base made with onions, tomatoes, garam masala, tamarind, herbs and coconut milk. Since this is a Southern style dish, ingredients like curry leaves, coconut milk and tamarind are used.

However if you are not accessible to these, you can still make this salmon curry by using the substitutes mentioned below.

Salmon does not absorb any flavors even if it is marinated. So I usually prepare the dish and rest it for 2 hours before serving. This is when the flavors are absorbed and enhanced.

I prefer to pan fry the salmon first until partially cooked before adding it to the simmering curry. This extra step enhances the flavor. However you can skip this step and add the uncooked salmon directly to the boiling curry. But I always feel this pan frying makes a huge difference.

Related recipes
Salmon Rice Bowl
Salmon Tikka Masala
Tandoori Salmon
Chicken curry
Chana masala

How to make Salmon Curry (Stepwise photos)

1. Rinse salmon well under running water. I cut 1 fillet to 2 pieces. Pat it dry with a kitchen tissue.

2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan. When the oil turns hot place the salmon. Sprinkle salt, turmeric, red chilli powder and garam masala. Also add the curry leaves.

frying salmon in a pan

3. After 2 mins, I flipped them and sprinkled the spices along with salt.

sprinkling spice powder

4. When they are half cooked remove to a plate along with the curry leaves.

pan fried salmon in a plate

5. To the same pan, add the rest of the oil and let it heat. Add mustard seeds. When they pop, add chopped garlic and curry leaves. Fry the garlic until a nice aroma comes out.

frying garlic & curry leaves

6. Then add onions and green chilies. Fry until they turn golden.

frying onions

7. Add tomatoes, salt, turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala and coriander powder.

adding spice powders to the pan

8. Saute until the tomatoes turn mushy and the masala leaves the sides of the pan. Then pour water and mix.

pouring water to make salmon curry

9. I also added the tamarind water. Add only half and if needed add the rest later. Mix and cook until the onions turn completely soft.

pouring tamarind water to make coconut salmon curry

10. The curry should thicken yet be slightly runny. Taste test and add more salt and tamarind. When the curry turned thick, I poured coconut milk. If using thick coconut milk, do not add it now. Instead pour it later.

pouring coconut milk

11. Mix well and place the salmon pieces in the curry. Regulate the flame to lowest heat. Cover the pan and cook until the salmon is done. Turn off the stove. Add some coriander leaves.

garnishing salmon curry with coriander leaves

Rest the curry for atleast 2 hours for best flavors. Serve salmon curry with rice, naan or roti.

salmon curry

Pro Tips

Curry leaves: We love the flavor of curry leaves in this dish. So I use a generous amount of them. If you do not have then just skip them. There is no substitute for curry leaves. But add lots of fresh coriander leaves (cilantro) before finishing the dish.

Spice powders: I use garam masala and red chilli powder (ground red chilies) in this recipe. However it works pretty much the same way even if you replace them with any other curry powder. Just ensure you use a good aromatic powder.

Coconut milk: To make the salmon creamy, I have added a bit of coconut milk. Feel free to skip it or substitute with poppy seeds milk or cashew or nut milk. The curry tastes good even without any coconut milk. To make nut milk, add about 12 to 14 cashews to a grinder and make a fine powder. Pour water just enough to cover the powder and blend to a smooth thick milk.

Curry base: The base of this curry is made from scratch by sauteing onions, garlic and tomatoes. Followed by the spice powders. The dish has a chunky sauce. For a smoother gravy, you can blend the sauteed mixture.

Tamarind: Tamarind or a sour ingredient is a total game changer here. The curry should not be very tangy but should have a well balanced taste of heat, spice & tang. So add tamarind only as needed. If using tamarind concentrate start with a small quantity, as little as 1 teaspoon.

You can substitute tamarind with lemon juice or amchur powder. To use amchur, add 1 teaspoon just before finishing the dish. If using lemon juice, add 2 tablespoons when the temperature has come down a bit.

Salmon Curry Recipe

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

salmon curry recipe

Salmon Curry Recipe

Indian style salmon curry made with salmon, onions, tomatoes, spices & herbs. Serve it with rice, roti or naan.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 1 lb. (400 to 500 grams) salmon
  • 2 tablespoons oil (I use coconut oil)
  • ¼ teaspoon mustard seeds
  • 1 to 2 sprigs curry leaves (leave out if you don't have)
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves fine chopped or crushed
  • 1 cup (1 large) onion fine chopped
  • 1 green chili (optional) slit
  • ¼ cup (1 medium) tomato fine chopped
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • 1 to 1¼ teaspoon red chilli powder (plus more to sprinkle on salmon)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric (plus more to sprinkle)
  • ½ teaspoon garam masala (plus more to sprinkle)
  • 1 to 1¼ teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons tamarind (or 1 teaspoon amchur, or 2 tbsps lemon juice, adjust to taste)
  • 1 to 1½ cups water (use only as needed)
  • ½ cup coconut milk (optional)
  • 2 sprigs coriander leaves


Instructions

  • Bring salmon to room temperature. Rinse it well under running water and pat dry with a kitchen tissue.
  • If using tamarind, soak it in half cup hot water.

Preparation

  • Pour 1 tbsp oil to a nonstick pan and heat it.
  • When the oil turns hot, place the salmon with the skin side down.
  • Sprinkle 1 pinch of each – salt, red chilli powder and garam masala. Fry it for 1 to 2 mins & then carefully flip.
  • Repeat sprinkling salt, red chili powder and garam masala on the other side. Add curry leaves towards the sides in the oil.
  • Fry just for another 1 to 2 mins depending on the thickness of the fillet.
  • Salmon should be partially cooked, not fully. Gently remove it to a plate along with crispy curry leaves and set aside.

How to Make Salmon Curry

  • Pour 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and heat it.
  • Add mustard seeds. When they pop, add curry leaves and garlic.
  • Saute until the garlic smells fragrant.
  • Then saute onions and green chilies until onions turn golden.
  • Then add tomatoes, salt, turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala and coriander powder.
  • Saute all of these until tomatoes break down and the masala turns fragrant. The mixture should leave the sides of the pan as well.
  • Pour 1 cup water and ¼ cup tamarind water. Mix well and cook until the onions turn completely soft. The curry should thick yet slightly be runny at this stage.
  • Taste the curry and add more salt and tamarind if needed.
  • Optional – Pour coconut milk and stir.
  • Gently place the salmon (skin side down) and pour some of the curry over the fillets.
  • Cover and cook on the lowest flame until the salmon is cooked completely. When it is done you can see the color changes. Press down the fillet gently, if done it flakes.
  • Sprinkle coriander leaves. Rest the salmon curry for atleast 2 hours before serving.


Notes

  1. To remove the fishy smell, spray some vinegar over the fillet and rinse it. Do not let it soak up in the vinegar as it can turn mushy.
 

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

Watch Salmon Curry Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Salmon Curry Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 543 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Fat 33g51%
Saturated Fat 8g50%
Cholesterol 110mg37%
Sodium 796mg35%
Potassium 1413mg40%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 10g11%
Protein 43g86%
Vitamin A 1059IU21%
Vitamin C 43mg52%
Calcium 81mg8%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Salmon Curry Recipe

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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Comments

Recipe Rating




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5 stars
Amazing taste and simple. Thank you.

5 stars
This is fantastic and easy to follow. Thank you!

5 stars
Thanks for the amazing recipe. The family loved it. Easy to cook and so tasty. I didn’t have tomatoes so I used tomato puree and I didn’t have tamarind so I substituted with lemon juice and brown sugar.

5 stars
I’m about to make this recipe for the second time, but wondering if I can make it a day in advance. What do you think? The first time was a huge hit, thank you for sharing!

Will do! Thank you!

5 stars
Delicious recipe. I made it for my wife and she loved it. Thank you!

I’m finally going to make this evening. I’ve listed all the ingredients for my shopping trip. One question…. I only have white basmati rice in the cupboard. Can I just add turmeric to make it yellow? All the recipes for yellow rice say to add lots of other ingredients like onions and garlic which I think would make it a bit heavy for the salmon curry.

5 stars
I’m going to try this as it looks delicious. Just wondering about leaving it for two hours…. presumably you need to heat it up before serving. Would you do this in the oven or on the hob? Thanks.

Thanks ?

5 stars
Hi Swathi
I love trying fish curry recepe s n loved this.
I had never tried with Salmon earlier.
It was flavorful n more than i had expected

5 stars
My husband can’t stop raving about this. Even my son loved it. This is a keeper and will be a regular. I love Swathi’s recipes in general, never disappointed. Thank you for this and all amazing recipes.

Hi this looks great. Can I use Amchoor as a sub for the Tamarind? Thank you

Can we use salmon steak instead of fillet?

5 stars
Thank you for sharing this recipe, Swasthi.

I am in UK (for a few months) staying with my son. We both enjoy cooking together! We tried this Salmon Curry recipe and it turned out well!

For tamarind juice, I could manage with tamarind paste (it comes with 35% sugar in it – I need your guidance and help in getting the right tamarind taste).

For novices like me, it will help if you can check the ingredients that you have mentioned are included in the right place. For example, mustard seeds are mentioned in the ingredients but not in the steps/description as to when to use it. The last one I managed without the mustard seed. Kindly update the instructions so that people like me know when to add that in.

Thank you very much for posting recipe.

Best Regards
Sanjay

Maybe use mustard seeds when you first heat oil for salmon?

5 stars
Hi Swasthi,
We Made it yesterday. Everyone loved it very much , so it will join our Sabbath dinner.
Thank you very much for this tasty recipe.
Tal (Israel)

5 stars
Loved it..thank you

5 stars
Hello Swasthi!

I made this twice already, and both times a hit! My husband remarked that he initially was not thrilled when I said that we’ll have this for tea, but he changed his mind and finished everything on his plate! ?
I just subbed a couple of things: firstly, I used tamarind powder instead of fresh ones. This is called sinigang mix, sinigang is a Filipino soup dish that uses primarily tamarinds for tanginess. (Yes, I’m Filipina ❤️) For this, I added just a tiny bit of water so that I could blend the gravy smoothly. Secondly, I used a bit of cream instead of coconut milk due to availability. 10/10 will make again, this time with proper curry leaves! ❤️

Thank you, Swasthi! xx

5 stars
Dear Swasthi, thank you for making better cooks out of both my hubby and me! He started following your recipes last year when he started cooking. Now I am hooked too! I’m in my 40’s but I feel that we both are learning how to cook from you! We really appreciate the fact that you don’t just share the recipes but all the other bits of info that enhances our understanding of the process/ ingredients. Today before we started our meal we thanked you.. just like we always do before enjoying anything that comes from your blog! Medu vada tomoro!! God Bless!

How do I know when the salmon (in salmon curry recipe) is partially cooked and when it is fully cooked?

5 stars
Fantastic recipe! I subbed lime juice and brown sugar for the tamarind. Can’t wait to make it again!

5 stars
Swarthi, thank you for this Salmon curry recipe. We had it last night for dinner with some guests and it was a hit! The proportions are perfect and the tamarind just took it to the next level. This is a keeper recipe.

5 stars
Did you really mean let the curry rest for 2 hours??

5 stars
Hi swasthi,
I am a sincere follower to your blog.I tried so many recipes including salmon curry. Most interesting and fav part is your tips Section. Keep doing best work!!