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Fish head curry

Indonesian, Malaysian and Singaporean curry dish

Fish head curry

Indian version of fish head curry
Alternative names	Kari kepala ikan (MalayorIndonesian)
Type	Curry
Course	Main course
Place of origin	Singapore
Region or state	Nationwide in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
Created by	(Indian origin)
Serving temperature	Hot or warm
Main ingredients	Red snapper fish head, vegetables (okra, eggplant, Long bean)
Variations	Fish amok, Fish head casserole, Ho mok pla, mok pa

Fish head curry (Malay and Indonesian: kari kepala ikan) is a dish in Indonesian,^[1] Malaysian and Singaporean cuisines^[2][3] with mixed Indian and Chinese origins.^[4] The head of a red snapperisstewed in a Kerala-style curry with assorted vegetables such as okra and eggplants. It is usually served with either rice or bread, or as a shared dish.

Description[edit]

It is believed that fish head curry was invented when chef M.J. Gomez from Kerala, India adopted the dish to bring South Indian cuisine to diners in Singapore. Although fish head was not widely served in India, Chinese customers considered it to be a special delicacy, so M.J. had the idea of cooking the fish in curry instead.^[5] The dish was first sold in 1949, at the restaurant opened by Gomez.^[6]

Today, Indian, Malay, Chinese, and Peranakan restaurants all serve variations of this dish. Fish head curry has become a popular dish among Singaporeans and tourists alike. Costing between $10 and $20, it is generally not considered cheap hawker fare. It typically comes served in a clay pot, and is often sold at hawker centers and neighbourhood food stalls.^{[citation needed]}

Preparation[edit]

Tamarind (asam) juice is frequently added to the gravy to give the dish a sweet-sour flavor (see asam fish). This variety of fish head curry also has a thinner, orange gravy.^[7]

Coconut milk can be added to this dish.^[8]

See also[edit]

• Malay cuisine
• Minangkabau cuisine
• Peranakan cuisine
• Malabar matthi curry
• Fish head casserole
• Fish amok
• Fish stew
• Fish curry (disambiguation)

References[edit]