Easy Mathi (Sardine) Curry

Ingredients:-
Mathi (Sardine) - 8 nos
Pearl onions - 15 nos
Green chilli - 1 or 2 (optional)
Ginger chopped - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - 2 strands
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 2 tsp (Kashmiri)
Thin coconut milk - 3 cups
Thick coconut milk - 1 cup
Kudampuli (Gambooge) - 2 pieces
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste

Method:-
First clean and wash the sardine in a mixture of salt and vinegar, then wash it with water. Make some small gashes on it and keep it aside.

Make a mixture of 2 tsp of chilli powder and 1 tsp of turmeric powder by mixing it with water to form a slightly thin creamy paste and keep it aside.

Clean and soak 2 pieces of gambooge/kudampuli in 1/2 a cup of water and keep it aside.

Now, in a pan heat 2 tbsp of oil. To this, add chopped pearl onions, chopped ginger, curry leaves, and green chillies. Saute it till the onions become transparent. To this, add our chilli and turmeric mixture and saute till oil starts to separate. Now, add 3 cups of thin coconut milk (i use eastern coconut milk powder) and allow it to boil. To this, add our fish, kudampuli/gambooge along with the water, and salt to taste. Simmer the flame, cover and cook until the fish gets done and the gravy starts to thicken. Now, add 1 cup of thick coconut milk, stir and switch off the flame. Do not allow it to boil once you have added the thick coconut milk.

Serve it hot with rice, chapati, boiled chembu/colocasia, kappa, etc.....