Dry Anchovies Curry/ Dry Nethili Curry/ Endu Nethalla Kura

Anchovies are small fish and known as Nethallu in Telugu, Nethili in Tamil and Malayalam, Bolingei Kollathuru in Kannada. We can get Anchovies fresh and dried. Sun dried Anchovies can be stored long. Dry Anchovies are smelly. We have to wash them until we see clear water. Proper washing will avoid the smell. 

We can cook them with milk/pallu posina kura or with tomato or with yellow cucumber. Today I made onion-tomato based Anchovies curry. Simple, spicy and quick. 

Soaked and washed Dry Anchovies

Prep Time : 20 minutes
Cook Time : 20 to 25 minutes
Serves : 2

Ingredients:

• Dry Anchovies - 1 cup
• Onions - 2, Medium size
• Large tomato - 1
• Green chillies - 2 (optional)
• Avalu/Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Ginger-garlic paste - 1.5 tsp
• Coriander powder - 1 tsp
• Cumin powder - 2 tsp
• Red chilli powder - 1 tsp or to taste
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Curry leaves - 1 spring
• Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup, chopped
• Salt to taste
• Oil - 4 tbsp

Preparation:

• Remove head and tail of dry Anchovies and soak in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes, so that they become soft. Wash them for 5 to 6 times until there is no sand and in the final wash water must be clear.
• Chop onions, tomato and slit green chillies.

Let's see how to prepare curry with Dry Anchovies

• Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds. When they start spluttering add green chillies and curry leaves and fry for 2 to 3 second.
• Add onions, little salt,turmeric powder and fry till they turn brown.
• Add ginger-garlic paste and tomatoes and cook until tomato pieces turn soft.
• Add cumin- coriander powder, chilli powder, salt and mix.
• Add anchovies and cook till they are done. (They will take approx 10 minutes)
• Add coriander leaves, adjust salt and mix.
• Serve with Rice.