Delicious Monkfish Curry

Monkfish curry or any fish curry is a must-make recipe for any fish and spice lover so if you are ready to spice up your dinner I introduce you to this South Indian - Srilankan Style Monkfish Curry! We're talking succulent monkfish fillets taking a delicious dip in a rich, creamy curry sauce that's packed with aromatic goodness, It is not just any fish curry recipe – it's one of the absolute best that you can whip up entirely from scratch in just 30 minutes. Yep, you read that right!

What's the secret? Well, it's as simple as raiding your kitchen for basic ingredients, grabbing some fresh herbs, and adding totally pantry-friendly spices. It's like a flavor explosion waiting to happen with minimal fuss. So, let's get cooking and savor every bite of this incredible curry creation! 🌶️🐟

I’m a huge fan of monkfish, yes it is not the cheapest I am not sure such a thing as cheap fish does exist. It is long gone now.

We love cooking fish, prawns, and squids, in flavourful curries! If you love a rich creamy coconut curry as much as we do, you might also love my Slow Cooker Beef Massaman Curry, Squid Curry, Curried Chicken And Green Beans Couscous or these Pineapple Curry, Roasted Curried Butternut Squash, Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry and this Easy Instant Pot Coconut Rice to pair it with. All soo good!

Jump to:

• 💭 What is monkfish?
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make it
• 🍛 Monkfish curry variations
• 🍽 What to serve monkfish curry with
• 🌡️Top tips
• 📦 Storage
• ❓Recipe FAQs
• 🦑 Other fish or seafood recipes you may enjoy :
• ♨️ More curry recipes that you must try:
• 🍛 Delicious Monkfish Curry

💭 What is monkfish?

Monkfish, oh, it's a real gem! It has an incredible texture that's both succulent and meaty, with a sweet flavor that's simply divine. It has earned itself the nickname 'Poor Man's Lobster' because it's like lobster's cool, budget-friendly cousin. A taste of luxury without breaking the bank.

Now, when it comes to cooking monkfish, there's one way that always gets me excited: bathing it in a luscious, creamy curry sauce. If you're tired of the same old pan-fried, steamed, or baked monkfish dishes, then you absolutely must give this curried monkfish a whirl! It's a flavor-packed adventure you won't want to miss. 🍽️🦞

🥘 Ingredients

All you will need for this fish curry recipe is a few ingredients but if you are a curry lover you'll have most of these ingredients in your pantry cupboard:

Here's what you need to make a super-delicious monkfish curry:

• fresh organic turmeric root
• monkfish fillets (cut into chunks) - ask the fishmonger to debone and deskin your fish
• onions (finely sliced) (red onions or shallots)
• curry leaves (I only recommend fresh curry leaves- dried curry leaves don't taste anything like the fresh ones, in fact, they taste like nothing so in general, I do not even bother adding these at all if I do not have the amazing fresh ones) 
• fresh ginger (grated or finely chopped)
• Thai green chilies (finely sliced)
• garlic (grated or crushed and finely chopped)
• cardamom pods (bashed) - I did add cardamom here in this recipe but thought of that later hence this doesn't appear in the picture
• mixed seeds ( in equal amounts - black mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds)
• fresh tomatoes, roughly chopped (tomato paste can also be used or tinned tomatoes if you would like a juicer curry
• tamarind paste (crucial for any fish curry)
• coconut milk use light coconut milk too
• fresh coriander (finely chopped)
• lime juice ( use some zest too if your limes are unwaxed)
• olive oil (optional) you may use a little ghee if you fancy. As a general rule, I do not use/add any oil at all when cooking with meat or fish.
• steamed basmati rice to serve

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make it

If you master the quick and easy art of making this curry sauce, you’ll soon realize that you are a master of curry sauce and this special sauce can be used as a base for any seafood curry.

This is a Sri Lankan-South Indian style monkfish coconut curry recipe that I often make and it is delicious every time no matter what fish I am using for this recipe, you can use virtually any fish you like or happen to have in hand.

For the best results and a superb tasty monkfish curry recipe, it's best to add as many fresh ingredients as possible, especially ginger, garlic, and curry leaves. This is the key to success and to getting the most unique flavors in any curry. The ingredients I mentioned above are crucial and are not worth using powders or store-bought. Please forget about ready-bought garlic or ginger paste, these are never the same and most of them have additives.

Here are the most important steps:

Step 1

• Marinate the monkfish - this step is important to achieve a nice and flavor monkfish curry. The longer you marinate the fish the better.

Step 2

• Make the curry sauce by adding some ingredients ( chopped onions, seeds, cardamom, curry leaves, curry powder, garlic, ginger, chilies, salt, and pepper). Cook for approximately 8-10 minutes until the onion has become translucid and softened.

Step 3

• Stir in the fresh tomatoes or the tomato paste/tinned tomatoes, tamarind paste, and coconut milk; season, then bring to a boil.

Step 4

• Add the monkfish together with the marinade to the curry sauce and simmer over low heat. Cook the monkfish curry until the fish is cooked through and becomes opaque. Do not stir after adding the fish, shake the pot or twist.

Step 5

• Serve over steamed basmati rice. Scatter some chopped coriander leaves. Bon appetit!

🍛 Monkfish curry variations

• Monkfish and prawn curry - the prawns can be added at the same time with the monkfish or a few minutes later - it is equally good and all right;
• make it a Thai-style curry - just add the coconut and the lemongrass and here you have it!

🍽 What to serve monkfish curry with

Serve it on white fluffy basmati rice, jasmine rice, red rice, brown rice, with naan bread or flatbread. Why not cut some of the carbs and have it with broccoli or cauliflower rice? It works well served with couscous too.
I also make a nice dhal or dal (lentil curry) to go with it. Simply divine! A nice tomato salad (with or without the feta) or some pickles like my pickled garlic.

🌡️Top tips

• Please do not overcook the fish as this can be easily done. The best way to avoid this is by making/cooking the curry sauce or the gravy first and then adding the fish.
• You may pat dry the fish with a paper towel or clean cloth to remove excess moisture.
• Be gentle when stirring as the fish could break apart.
• Use only fresh curry leaves for the best flavor.

📦 Storage

Any leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Add a dash of water or stock when reheating on the stove or microwave. You may also freeze it, see below in the FAQs.

❓Recipe FAQs

🦑 Other fish or seafood recipes you may enjoy :

• Creamy fish soup (chowder)
• Easy Fish Pie Recipe
• Open fish pie with a coconut milk twist
• Organic veg & fish soup
• Delicious Baked Cod Recipe
• Simple sardine fillets and polenta with Parmesan cheese and garlic sauce
• Salmon Wellington

♨️ More curry recipes that you must try:

• Delicious and super healthy Lamb Curry
• Duck Thai curry with fresh coconut and lemongrass-infused rice
• Vegetarian Thai curry on egg-fried rice
• Ox tongue curry
• Squid curry with turmeric rice
• Quick vegan curry - by A Couple Cooks
• Vegetarian Thai curry on egg-fried rice

Please leave a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 star rating in the recipe card below and a review in the comment section further down the page if you have made this recipe and liked it. Thank you so much for stopping by!