Nethili Fry
A crispy fried anchovy dish seasoned with spices, perfect as a snack or a side for rice. It's a popular street food in Chennai, known for its crunchy texture and spicy flavor.
Cuisines
Madras
Best for
Snacks
Lunch
Dinner
Recipe
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 35 min
2-3 servings
Ingredients
| 250 grams | nethili (anchovy) fish |
| 1 tablespoon | ginger-garlic paste |
| 1 teaspoon | red chili powder |
| 0.5 teaspoon | turmeric powder |
| 1 teaspoon | coriander powder |
| 0.5 teaspoon | cumin powder |
| 1 teaspoon | lemon juice |
| — | salt to taste |
| 2 tablespoons | rice flour |
| 2 tablespoons | corn flour |
| 1 cup | oil for frying |
| 1 sprig | curry leaves |
Instructions
- 1 Clean the nethili fish thoroughly and pat dry with a paper towel.
- 2 In a bowl, mix ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, lemon juice, and salt.
- 3 Add the cleaned fish to the marinade and coat well. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- 4 Mix rice flour and corn flour in a separate plate.
- 5 Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.
- 6 Coat each marinated fish with the flour mixture and gently place it in the hot oil.
- 7 Fry the fish in batches until they are golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes per batch.
- 8 Remove the fried fish and drain on paper towels.
- 9 In the same oil, fry the curry leaves until crispy and use them as a garnish over the fried fish.
Tips
Ensure the oil is hot enough before frying to achieve a crispy texture.