09/02/2026
🔥 Kidukaachi Mathi Fry 🌶️🐟
This is NOT your regular mathi fry! Instead of marinating and frying the sardines directly, we cook them slowly in a spicy, tangy masala until all that flavor gets absorbed and the fish turns beautifully roasted. 🤤
With some hot rice, you honestly don’t need another curry! ❤️
Ingredients
• Mathi / Sardines – 1 kg, cleaned & gashed
• Coconut oil – 4–5 tbsp
• Kashmiri chilli powder – 2½ tbsp
• Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
• Shallots – 10–12, crushed
• Garlic – 8–10 cloves, crushed
• Curry leaves – 2 handfuls
• Rock salt – ½ tbsp, adjust to taste
• Chilli flakes – 1 tsp
• Kudampuli – 4–5 pieces, soaked
OR small lemon-sized tamarind, soaked and extracted
• Crushed black pepper – 1 tsp
• Crushed fenugreek – ½ tsp
Method 🔥
Heat coconut oil in a wide pan over very low heat. Add Kashmiri chilli powder and turmeric and gently roast for about 30 seconds. Don’t let the spices burn!
Add crushed shallots and garlic and roast slowly until fragrant and nicely cooked.
Add a handful of curry leaves, rock salt, chilli flakes and the soaked kudampuli along with a little soaking water. Let everything simmer together for about 5 minutes.
Now arrange the mathi in a single layer. Cook for about 3–4 minutes per side, flipping carefully. Continue cooking until the liquid completely reduces and the fish reaches your preferred level of roast and crispiness.
Remove the kudampuli. Finish with another handful of fresh curry leaves, crushed black pepper and crushed fenugreek. Give the pan one final gentle toss.
That spicy coconut-oil masala coating the mathi… chood chorinte koode vere onnum venda! 🤌🔥
Keywords: Kerala Mathi Fry, Sardine Fry, Kerala Fish Fry, Spicy Fish Roast, Mathi Recipe, Kerala Seafood, Coconut Oil Fish Fry, Kudampuli Fish, Kerala Lunch, Naadan Food