Nyonya Assam Pedas Fish [Tamarind Curry Fish]

Nyonya tamarind juice curry, quite a close, simplified version of Assam Laksa which enables you to enjoy this thick, tangy soup hassle-free.  You can omit the optional ingredients, the soup is still good.  Quite spicy, acceptable according to my hubby's taste buds [he loves 'strong' flavoured curries]. 
This quantity is enough to cook 1 to 1.5 kg fish with 1.5 litre water [tamarind juice].  I like this kind of spicy curry cos' no oil is required and it is good to serve with blanched rice vermicelli and garnish with mint leaves or any leafy greens.

The original recipe uses stingray [cut into chunks] but here I used Mahogany Snapper [from my hubby's fishing trip].  You can also use whole Ikan Kembong [mackerel] and medium big prawns [if serving with noodles].

Ingredients

[original recipe from Nyonya Flavours with slight modifications]

1.5 heaped tbsp tamarind pulp

1.5 litre water

1.5 kg stingray - cut into chunks [I used fresh Mahogany snapper]

2 stalks ginger flower - halved and sliced finely

3/4 tbsp salt to taste

2 tbsp sugar to taste

a few stalks of Vietnamese mint [daun kesom] - optional

some mint leaves - optional

Spice Paste - Ground Together

20 gm [15-20] dried red chillies - soaked in hot water and drained

2 stalks lemongrass - sliced

2 cm fresh tumeric - skinned and sliced or 1 tsp tumeric powder

150 gm [15-20] shallots

20 gm [2 cloves] garlic

20 gm belacan

1. Blend spice ingredients in a blender until fine.  Set aside.
2. Mix tamarind pulp with water and strain to extract the juice.
3. Bring tamarind juice and spice paste to a boil in a pot for 5-10 minutes until aromatic.  Season with salt and sugar.
   
4. Add the fish and daun kesum [if using] boil until cooked for about 2 minutes.
   
   
   
   
5. Add sliced ginger flower and serve hot with mint leaves.

Notes:  You can prepare half portion of the curry paste to cook about 600 gm of fish.

This post is linked to the event,  Little Thumbs Up [June 2013 - Curry Paste/Powder] organised by Zoe [Bake for Happy Kids] and Mui Mui [My Little Favourite DIY] and hosted by Miss B of Everybody Eats Well in Flanders

I'm also submitting this to  Malaysian Food Fest [June 2013] - Penang hosted by Alan of Travellingfoodie