I was walking towards our bus stage with my friend one hot humid afternoon after running some errands. We were both quite tired and the heat was not making it any easier. With everything we set out to do complete, all was left to do was to get a meal. And when I am hungry, that is all that occupies my mind. I try as much as possible not to go into a supermarket when hungry, since I end up buying things I do not even like to eat or end up binging of sweet things that I normally wouldn’t have a stomach for. On this particular day however, only one thing was on my mind: fish. I love fish! And for me, that would be the perfect way to end my day and unwind. I quickly made my way to the nearest fish vendor and bought myself some tilapia then rushed home. My Kraving resulted in this very delicious, mind-numbingly good chili coconut tilapia masala. Perfect marriage of flavor; very unexpected, but so delicious!
Proceed with caution though, because my tilapia masala can very easily turn into a very real addiction.
PREP TIME: 15 MIN COOK TIME: 30 MIN SERVES: 1
Ingredients
1 250g tilapia, deep fried
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 tomatoes, minced
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 a tablespoon of turmeric
1/2 tablespoon of black pepper
1/2 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
1 cup of coconut cream
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil for frying
Method
In a pan with your heated oil, add your finely chopped red onion, minced garlic, some salt and all the spices. We shall be adding the spices at this point so that they cook down really well and meld before proceeding to the next steps. If you add them at any other point, they will feel almost grainy and not meld as well.
After the onions have softened (not blackened!!!) and the garlic is fragrant, add your pureed tomatoes, your tomato paste and allow it to cook down for about 4 minutes. Add the coconut cream and mix it in. Turn down the heat to low and allow this to simmer down for another 5 minutes so that all the flavors come together.
I bought my coconut cream from Tuskys and I am beyond sure you can get it in any other large supermarket. I can never use ingredients that are beyond your reach. So whenever you are wondering where I got any ingredient, ask me. I am always just a tweet away :))
After the time has lapsed, scoop out three tablespoons of the sauce and set aside for use a bit later. Add your tilapia into the remainder of the sauce and squeeze your lemon juice over it. Lemon flavors and fish are a match made in heaven. It’s sourness awakens the flavors and ties everything together.
In Kenya, Tilapia is mostly bought after it has already been deep fried and consumed in most homes after it has been twice cooked: the last phase of cooking being in a rich sauce of choice. For me,today, mine is the coconut cream chilli sauce. There are many ways you can cook it though so do not shy away from playing around with your flavors.
Slather the sauce you scooped out a few minutes ago over the fish and cover with a lid and let this simmer down on low heat. This allows the flavors of the sauce to penetrate the flesh of the fish and also make it super moist. You can also use this same sauce with fries, or potato wedges or with your favorite pasta. If you decide to use my chili coconut sauce with pasta, just do not use lemon or if you do, use it in moderation.
After your fish is done, lock the door, switch off your phone and prepare to dig in uninterrupted!!! My chili coconut tilapia masala is so good, you will need to concentrate and soak in the glorious flavors note by note! Yes, selfishness is allowed!
Perfect with any starch of choice, however I especially enjoy my tilapia masala with some nice hot ugali and creamed managu. With the rainy Nairobi weather, nothing like delicious food to keep your body warm, your tummy full and your soul happy. Make sure my chilli coconut tilapia masala is it!!
Try this out and take pics as you cook and tag me on social media. I would love to see your master piece :)). After you try this out, you can try my tilapia peri peri and my rosemary garlic tilapia fish fingers. I am sure you will fall in love with all three recipes :))
Happy cooking!!
-K
Get your downloadable recipe here :))
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Hey there! My name is Kaluhi and I love food! Through my blog, I am happy to share with you my self-taught recipes, steeped in nostalgia and the happiest of memories. I hope each recipe you try out is as addictive as the previous one and is shared on a table full of love and hearty laughs!
We Kaluhi you are wasting fish, that head should be gone.Completely wiped out!!!I am definitely making this over the weekend:-)
LOL! I do not like eating the head. But if you like it, do you babe! Let me do me :)) Take pics as you cook and tag me! I would love to see your masterpiece :))
So simple yet amazing!!
Sometimes, the best flavors come form the simplest of combinations :)) Hope you try this out :))
thanks kaluhi for this recipe its a must try, kindly i wld like to know if cayenne pepper is same as chilli pepper.
Cayenne and chilli pepper are both hot spices but are still vastly different. Both can be substitutes for the other, but still have different qualities. I suggest you have both. Cayenne pepper is only 120 bob in all super markets in Kenya.
Making this tonight!
Fantastic!!!! Let me know how it goes :))
Hi, I am a guy who loves cooking, and I absolutely love your blog! Thank you. Any suggestions for what to drink with this, I’m thinking cheap white wine or a pilsner like Heineken
You can drink it with absolutely anything you like. There is no right or wrong :)) White wine would be perfect!
I’ve jst had supper so thanks 4 making me hungry again…I never thought I’d Meza mate this much from reading a recipe & am so trying this one. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed the read and your senses came to life just by reading :DD. Hope you try out the recipe
I really admire your recipe especially the simple preparation and easily available incredients will try the tilapia masala.
Thank you! And hope you love this as much as I did!
I also thank you for allowing us down load the recipe many blogs don’t allow that.
You are very welcome!
Wow… All this goodness in one meal. I swear I just salivated * while reading this piece.. Kesho Lazima nikule fish.. 😂 😂
Have you updated your recipe book? Would like to order a copy.
No. The recipe book does not have recipes on the blog but totally new and exclusive recipes that are not on the blog. I do not plan on updating it. In the mean time, do enjoy the recipes that are on here :))
What is the book called, how much is it, and where can i buy it? Thanks
Which book are you refering to?
This looks so yummy!! EXCEPT you erred in one area… you didn’t do justice to the head!! That’s the tastiest part of the fish and girl I devour it all, suck the brain, eyes etc😋. Good job as always 👏
I gave it to my cat. You are more than free to eat the head if it is your favorite part