This “masala” fish fry recipe version is from my mother-in-law and it uses generous amounts of sambar powder, onion and crushed garlic. We are big fans of this fish fry version. I generally use wild caught fish and avoid farmed ones (wild caught sockeye salmon fillets with skin is used for this recipe).
Sambar powder gives unique taste to this fish fry, and I strongly recommend you try this recipe with sambar powder and I bet you will be hooked. But if you do not have sambar powder, I have given some substitute options.
Vegetarians – please read the notes section on how to adapt this recipe to make some veggie dish variations.
Masala Fish Fry
A delicious fish fry recipe with sambar powder, onion and crushed garlic masala!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Salmon fillets wild caught
- 1 Onion chopped
- 10 cloves Garlic crushed/ chopped
- 2 tbsp Sambar powder
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Fennel powder
- 1 tbsp Lime juice or tamarind juice
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Oil
Sambar powder substitute
- 1/2 tbsp Chili powder
- 1/2 tbsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Black pepper powder
- 1 tsp Jeera powder
Instructions
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Marinate the fish fillets with chopped onion, crushed garlic, masala powders, lime or tamarind juice and salt and let it sit for 15 to 30 mins.
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Take a wide pan and heat oil. When it is hot, spread out the fish fillets (skin side down) and place the masala onion/ garlic in the gaps and close the lid and cook in medium heat for about 3 mins.
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Open the lid, flip the fish pieces and remove the fish skin with spatula, it will come off easily (please do not remove the fish skin, continue roasting it with the masala and the roasted fish skin tastes so yummy too!). Mix the masala gently. Cover and cook for about 2 mins.
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Now continue cooking for another 5 - 10 minutes without lid. Flip the fish pieces and mix the masala gently every now and then until they are fried well.
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Drizzle some lime juice (if needed) and serve with fish curry, sambar or rasam.
Recipe Notes
- The secret tip to keep this fish fry juicy and flavorful is by cooking the fish fry with lid covered in the first 5 mins!
- You can break the fish pieces a bit if prefer so (sometimes I make it purposefully, sometimes it happens by itself) but it still tastes good (even tastes better) as the masala coat well with the fish pieces.
- Generous quantities of sambar powder and onion/ garlic gives a special twist to this fish fry version. My son likes the masala in the fish fry so much and always says "Daddy, can you please put more masala next time?". I like the masala too, but my wife only takes a little bit of this masala. Taste preferences differ!
- Veggie twist: you can use this recipe to make quick and easy fried potato, cauliflower, eggplant, mushroom, chana, etc
Hello, my name is Senthil. I am a passionate food blogger from Houston, Texas. This is my online kitchen, and I will be cooking delicious recipes for you, provide kitchen tips that I have learned over the years, and share personal stories and fond memories around food. Keep checking out for new stuff!
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