Tuna Fish Stir-fry (Meen Puttu/ Podimas)

Here is a quick, easy, economical, modest and a tasty dish for fish lovers.



Economical in this case because I've used canned tuna fish. However, you may use any fresh or frozen fillets for this recipe as well.



It is usually on a day which has been preceded by rich meals, when our stomachs demand for something different while our palates persist for texture and subtlety, that this fish stir-fry comes to my attention. It blends perfectly well with watery and light curries like a Rasam (here & here) or More Kozhambu (Curd Curry) or Kattu sore Kozhambu / Spinach Sodhi Kozhambu.



In fact, this is such an easy and versatile dish that one can concoct the same as a filling in a sandwich or serve as a side dish or just try stirring in some of this copiously with some plain hot rice and tell me how it was!!



Ingredients: (for 4)



280g Tuna fish (I used unflavored canned salted tuna fish)

5 or 6 Shallots

3 green chillies (+/- according to your taste)

3 or 4 garlic pods (optional)

A sprig of curry leaves

½ a tsp of turmeric powder

5 spoons of Oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1tsp black gram dhal

1 tbsp fennel seeds

A tbsp fennel seeds powder

Salt

A tbsp of Lime/ Lemon juice

Coriander leaves (optional)



Method:



Drain the water from the can and crumble the fish. Add some turmeric powder to it, stir well and keep it aside.



Chop the shallots, garlic and the green chilies finely.



Heat oil in a wok, splutter the fennel seeds, the mustard seeds and the black gram dhal.



Add the curry leaves, the shallots, chopped garlic and the green chilies and fry until the shallots are slightly colored.



Add some salt (the fish is already salted, so we need just enough to season the masala) and now add the fish and stir-fry well for a couple of minutes.

Add the fennel seeds powder and fry one more minute and switch off the gas.



Sprinkle some lemon juice and maybe some coriander leaves and enjoy!!



PS: Canned Tuna fish can be very well substituted by other fresh or frozen fish fillets like Cod/ Haddock/ Hake. In this case, you just have to pre-cook them in some water, salt and turmeric powder and use as indicated in the recipe. Happy cooking  and have a nice week end dearies !!!!