Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry- A Mystery Box Creation

I haven’t followed any particular recipe for this Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry. Let’s call it a Mystery Box Creation. Actually, I wanted to make a steamed mustard coconut fish curry as suggested last week. But the fish I had bought was in the freezer and when I took it out realised that I should make that dish with fresh fish. It tastes much better that way. A curry it is then- which is a better option with a big fish which has been in the freezer.

Since I was feeling a little down and out, I decided to perk myself up with a bit of a kitchen experiment. It’s always interesting to see what finally happens to the flavours when you combine a few random ingredients together. Pair up this known main ingredient like say Coconut with another ingredient like mint.

Then you rummage around and find a few lime leaves. You find a bit of fennel powder left over from cooking another dish like say, Lotus stems for a classic Nadru Yakhni.

And then you wonder whether it will combine well with the other spices. Now, you have a real mystery!

Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry is a quirky one

Whenever I am experimenting, I miss my old faithful friends who were happy to be guinea pigs. Well, what can we do- they are far away and this fish won’t stay. So, I chug along thinking this is perhaps going to be a weird mix and sometimes weirdness helps. Get us grounded back in the humility of being quite foolish and yet curious and eager to learn.

Sometimes it helps not to have a cat around. As I am prepping the ingredients here, I wonder, would I be amiss in thinking of myself as that lonely cat lady? Actually, a cat lady without a cat- sounds like a psychopath. 🙂

Anyways, my cooking starts ahead of a few busy days. We have Ganesh Chaturthi which is an important festival here. But it’s not known for fish curry. I think Ganesha will forgive me for not making laddoos. I did that last week already.

We went shopping for Pujo and I checked my mother’s health reports.

Got a bit of a scare. Doesn’t look very good and the sugar levels indicate that I shouldn’t make modaks or puranpolis to share with her at least. My brother’s report is also not good.

Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry it is then- fish is good. I will be forgiven for this transgression ahead of a festive occasion.

Ok. But Why Coconut?

Now, like I said, I had got some coconut before which I made into various things. After the laddoos last week, I made a classic stuffed kakrol bhaja this week, which is similar to stuffed Potol er Dolma, but vegetarian. And then I was wondering what to do with the rest of the coconut. So, there you go. Confessions of managing the coconut situation led to this decision.

I could have made holige…but there the diabetes concern remains. Two weeks in a row of such indulgence may not be warranted irrespective of the overarching license given by the festive occasions.

I know what you will say next. You are not thinking about the children and the elders who look forward to such treats.

Yes, don’t start me on death again. I am really concerned about the number of people in my family popping off now. Looks like people are getting the ticket to heaven/hell really quickly. I had that morbid thought- “mera number kab ayega” (when will I get my queue number).

Nobody shared this Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry

I am sharing this recipe with the warning that it hasn’t been tried or tasted by anybody other than me. I survived. I relished it. But am I recommending it? Well, the point I wanted to make was to do your own mix.

Clean out the fridge and don’t be afraid to experiment. We have too many rules and regulations around this is the right way to cook this fish. While, the classics are important, we have our sudden Jackson Pollocks as well. The kitchen may look a bit messy but hey, we can get that cleaned up later.

Someone is going to put a claim to this dish first. Say that this fish curry, I made in 1952.

Well, my friend whoever you are- god bless you. But, I didn’t get to try that one. I’m actually just following the ingredients in my kitchen right now. Too many youngsters are accusing others of plagiarism these days. Let me assure you- this is an original recipe and not prompted by anybody .

If any of you wishes to try this recipe- do at your own risk. (I’m not selling this well, am I?)

Sunday memory with Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry

Once upon a time I would get a whole fish and stuff it with a spice mix like this- different herbs with or without the coconut. Prep ahead to then put it in the oven to bake or steam it right before lunch/dinner on a Saturday or Sunday. Those days of eating a whole fish are gone. And lazy Sundays waking up late and watching tv the whole day long are also gone.

That little girl in me looked up at the older self and asked, “Why don’t you care for me anymore?”

Maybe I can sleep in this Sunday and finish reading the mystery books I picked up. Some of my friends may have already watched the tv series with it and getting more anxious about their children.

A building collapsed in Delhi; a musician was murdered by drunk goons and of course we have the usual deaths with natural calamities during the monsoons. Who has the time to think about Coconut Lime Mint Fish Curry? Or some other fish recipe.

Well, I do right now. And hopefully it helps someone somewhere else later.

Damn that Coconut- couldn’t you throw it?

I did throw a coconut and break it in the Kalighat temple this year. I might have to go there again. Seems like my prayers were kind of misdirected.

When I saw the final result- it didn’t look any different from other fish curries made and therein lies the problem. Most of our curries look the same. Well, this one tasted very different, but you don’t know that do you? Maybe you can present it much better for those who want to read glossy magazines?

Some people go more by visual appeal while others taste it and then decide. I can tell you that this tasted a bit spring-summer fresh. And had a hint of the classics from the whiff of the fennel (saunf or mouri) powder added as a sweet reminder. Weird, but it worked.

Now, let’s have it hot with a bit of steaming white rice. And we thank a few people who made it possible for us to cook and enjoy this meal. Sending out with my good wishes for a festive week ahead.

Do your own thing but I do hope it’s not too much of an imposition on others.

I’m going to chase my family for doctor’s appointments. So, nothing super entertaining to look forward to next week.

Footnote

Retired and really tired

I didn’t do much to talk about

Whatever I did is attributed to others

Finding it hard to distinguish myself

From the lives and cares of many

They may not think about me at all

But I cry or try to help when they stumble

Sometimes they bruise, have a cut, have a fall.

May we live in uninteresting times…

Is that wish the mother of all crimes?

When there is so much of drama outside

Can there be a little peaceful sanctuary inside?

I wished for a quiet predictable life

Alas I was born a (wo)man without a wife

Are you thinking about how difficult it can be

For someone to wield a dismissive phone

As well as a sharpened tongue or a knife?

They choose to attack you if you are vulnerable

Purported slights concocted from all angles

Perhaps you missed the baits from their dangles

Somehow deemed to be stupid- not to see their charms

As I said I am a woman and beyond your spiteful harms

This Sunday, I do have a roof over my head

I can be happy with a simple thing as a good book

And a fish curry cooked with a fresh bouquet

A bucket of dreams sitting quietly

In a Nantucket of screams

Perhaps that didn’t make it worth a second look.

Melting Lemon Drop 13.09.2026

https://youtu.be/Y1PWD2LGI60