Goan Fish Curry

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The Golden Temple

📍 Where this dish comes from: Amritsar, Punjab · The Golden Temple
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Goan Fish Curry, plated and ready to serve

Goa’s unique position as a former Portuguese colony created a cuisine unlike anywhere else in India — the marriage of tropical coconut, tamarind, and fiery red chilies with the Portuguese love of vinegar and pork created something extraordinary. The fish curry is Goa’s greatest contribution to world cuisine: the very soul of Goa in a bowl, thick, crimson-gold coconut curry edged with the sour brightness of kokum and the heat of dried red chilies, wrapped around sweet fish that flakes apart at the merest nudge of a fork into the most perfect fragrant, tropical sauce.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Goan Fish Curry

Goan Fish Curry

Thick, crimson-gold coconut curry edged with the sour brightness of kokum and the heat of dried red chilies, wrapped around sweet fish.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 340kcal

Ingredients

  • 600 g firm white fish fillets (king fish or halibut)
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 onion sliced
  • 2 green chilies
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 4 dried Kashmiri chilies Spice Paste; soaked
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds Spice Paste
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds Spice Paste
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric Spice Paste
  • 1 tbsp tamarind paste Spice Paste
  • 400 ml coconut milk Spice Paste
  • Kokum or extra tamarind Spice Paste
  • Salt Spice Paste

Instructions

  • Blend soaked chilies with coriander, cumin, turmeric, and tamarind to a paste.
  • Heat coconut oil; cook onion until soft.
  • Add ginger-garlic paste and spice paste; cook 5 minutes.
  • Add coconut milk and kokum; bring to a simmer.
  • Cook sauce 10 minutes until thickened.
  • Add fish gently; cook 6–8 minutes until just opaque.
  • Adjust tanginess with extra kokum or tamarind.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 340kcal | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Fiber: 1g
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Cooking Goan Fish Curry in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • White fish is an excellent source of both selenium and iodine.
  • Kokum contains anthocyanins, antioxidants studied for their potential role in reducing inflammation.
  • Coconut milk provides MCTs that the body can convert to ketones for a readily available energy source.

Pairs Well With

  • Cauliflower Pulao
  • Almond Flour Roti
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