Turmeric Fish Recipes: Healthy Fried, Grilled & Wrapped Creations

(Updated Version)

Turmeric, often referred to as the "golden goddess" of the kitchen, is a staple ingredient in mine. How about you? Is this vibrant, golden-yellow spice a regular in your cooking? If not, it's worth considering. I personally use both dried Indian turmeric powder for curries (INDIAN FISH AND SALTED FISH PUMPKIN CURRY), stir-fries, and more, as well as fresh turmeric, known as kunyit hidup in Malay. At Nava's Zen, we even grow fresh turmeric in a large pot. Although some advice me to dry and grind it, I prefer using it fresh, along with its leaves, especially in my Malay dishes, which I prepare frequently.

Ms. Nava is not your typical Indian lady in this sense, right? Whether it's fresh turmeric, manjal thool (powdered turmeric), or turmeric leaves, all offer a wealth of health benefits. Today, these ingredients take center stage in four fish recipes (CAPE TOWN INDIAN FISH CURRY), including two fried variations—one pan-fried and the other grilled over a portable grill.

Turmeric Fried Pomfret with Coriander Ginger Dip

Ingredients

1 whole black pomfret (bawal), cleaned, de-gutted, and scored on both sides

½ tsp turmeric powder (kunyit)

1 tsp rice flour

1 tsp corn flour

Oil for deep frying

For the Coriander Ginger Dip

½ inch fresh ginger, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 green chili, chopped

1 bird’s eye chili (cili padi), chopped

2 sprigs coriander leaves, chopped

Fish sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, and salt (to taste)

Combine these ingredients together

Method

Rub the cleaned and scored black pomfret with turmeric powder, rice flour, and corn flour. Let it sit briefly to absorb the flavors.

Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the fish until crispy and golden brown.

Remove and place on a serving plate.

Serve fried pomfret with the dip. 

Turmeric Fried Fish with Kaffir Lime Leaves Soy Dip

Ingredients
2 silver trevally (ikan senangin) – cleaned and cut into 2
½ tbsp turmeric powder
1 tsp rice flour
1 tsp corn flour
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
Mix the fish with turmeric, rice flour, corn flour, and salt.

For the Kaffir Lime Soy Dip
Few sliced thinly kaffir lime leaves
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp sweet soy sauce
Chopped red chilies - per taste
Chopped shallots - per taste
Lime juice to taste
Salt to taste
Combine these ingredients together. 

Method
Fry the fish on both sides in heated oil until golden and crispy.
Place the fried fish on a serving plate.
Serve the fish with the Kaffir Lime Leaves Soy Dip.

Healthy Turmeric Leaf Wrapped Fish
Ingredients
1 piece of wolf herring (ikan kurau)
1-inch fresh turmeric, peeled and pounded
1/2 tbsp yogurt
Fresh turmeric leaves
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste

Method
Coat the fish with the pounded turmeric and salt.
Apply yogurt evenly over the fish.
Wrap the fish with fresh turmeric leaves, securing with toothpicks.
Heat oil in a wok, place the wrapped fish inside, cover, and cook thoroughly.
Once cooked, remove the lid and allow the leaves to crisp up.

Malay Style Authentic Turmeric Leaf Wrapped Fish
Ingredients
6 small pieces of mackerel
1-inch fresh turmeric, pounded
Chili powder to taste
Lime juice to taste
Salt to taste
Fresh turmeric leaves
2 tbsp oil

Method
Rub the pounded turmeric juice onto the fish.
Add chili powder, lime juice, and salt, mixing well.
Tear turmeric leaves into strips and wrap them around the fish, securing with toothpicks if needed.
Heat oil on a portable stovetop grill, place the fish on the grill, and cook on both sides until done.

For the Grilled Chilli Brinjal
Ingredients
1 brinjal (eggplant), sliced
Chopped red chilies - per taste 
Chopped green chilies - per taste
Chopped shallots - per taste
Lime juice to taste
1 tbsp oil
Salt to taste

(Ulam Raja/King Salad)

Method
Heat the grill and drizzle with oil. 
Grill the brinjal slices until charred.

Remove and toss with chopped chilies, shallots, lime juice, and salt to taste.