Kenyan Coconut Fish Curry, Swahili Coast

🎁 You have 30 days of free full access to every recipe. Join the Kitchen Club to keep it →
Stone Town

📍 Where this dish comes from: Zanzibar, Tanzania · Stone Town
Discover the history of this region →
Kenyan Coconut Fish Curry, Swahili Coast, plated and ready to serve

This is the more fully spiced cousin of the mchuzi wa samaki found earlier in this book — a Swahili coast curry built with a wider spice blend and a longer simmer, meant as a proper standalone main rather than a lighter everyday dish. Every element reflects the coast’s centuries of Indian Ocean trade.

What You’ll Need

Ingredients for Kenyan Coconut Fish Curry, Swahili Coast

Kenyan Coconut Fish Curry, Swahili Coast

A rich, Swahili coast fish curry built on coconut milk and a full spice blend — Kenyan coastal cooking at its most generous.
Print Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: East African
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 350kcal

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lb firm white fish cut into chunks
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tbsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 tomatoes diced
  • 1 1/2 cups coconut milk
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • Heat coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, toast 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add onion, cook 5 minutes until softened.
  • Add garlic and ginger, cook 1 minute.
  • Stir in curry powder and turmeric, cook 1 minute.
  • Add tomatoes, cook 5 minutes until broken down.
  • Pour in coconut milk, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook 8 minutes to let the sauce develop.
  • Add fish chunks, simmer gently 8–10 minutes until just cooked through.
  • Season with salt, top with cilantro, and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 350kcal | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Fiber: 2g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cooking Kenyan Coconut Fish Curry, Swahili Coast in the kitchen

Health Benefits

  • White fish delivers lean, complete protein with minimal saturated fat.
  • Coconut milk provides MCTs, a fast-burning fat source popular in ketogenic diets.
  • Turmeric’s curcumin content has been studied for anti-inflammatory properties.

Pairs Well With

  • Kenyan Kachumbari (Tomato & Onion Salad)
  • Kenyan Roasted Root Vegetables, Rift Valley Style
Scroll to Top