Ambul Thiyal (Sour Fish Curry)

4 servings20 min prep30 min cookMedium Sri Lanka

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Ambul Thiyal (Sour Fish Curry)

Ambul thiyal, a sour fish curry, gets its tang from goraka, a sour fruit native to Sri Lanka, traditionally used by southern Sinhalese fishing communities as a preservation method that let fish keep in the tropical heat without refrigeration. It remains one of the island's most distinctive regional curries.

Ingredients

Scale:· 4 servings
  • 700g firm fish (tuna or similar), cubed
  • 6-8 pieces dried goraka (gamboge), soaked
  • 1 tablespoon roasted curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 thumb ginger, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. 1Blend the soaked goraka pieces with a little water into a thick paste.
  2. 2In a clay pot or heavy saucepan, combine the fish cubes with the goraka paste, curry powder, pepper, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and curry leaves.
  3. 3Add just enough water to almost cover the fish.
  4. 4Season with salt and mix gently to coat the fish without breaking it apart.
  5. 5Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low.
  6. 6Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally and gently, until the liquid reduces to a thick, dark, dry-ish coating on the fish, about 20-25 minutes.
  7. 7Adjust seasoning to taste.
  8. 8Serve at room temperature or warm with rice.

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