Fiji Tuna Curry Recipe: Quick Tinned Tuna and Potato Curry
, by Domalco, 2 min reading time
Fiji's go-to weeknight dinner: tinned tuna and aloo (potato) cooked in a quick, spicy tarkari (curry). Ready in 25 minutes with pantry staples.
Every Fiji pantry has a few tins of tuna, and every Fiji cook knows how to turn them into a quick tuna tarkari (tuna curry). Onions, garlic and Fiji masala (curry powder) are fried, aloo (potatoes) go in, and the tuna is stirred through at the end. It's cheap, filling and on the table in 25 minutes, perfect with roti or rice.
Fiji Hindi words in this recipe
- tarkari (curry)
- machhli (fish)
- aloo (potato)
- pyaaz (onion)
- lehsun (garlic)
- jeera (cumin seeds)
- masala (curry powder / spice mix)
- dhaniya (coriander leaves)
- bhaat (cooked rice)
Ingredients
Serves 4 · Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min
- 2 tins (about 400 g total) tuna in oil or brine, drained
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
- A few curry leaves (optional)
- 1 large pyaaz (onion), sliced
- 3 cloves lehsun (garlic), crushed
- 1½ tbsp Fiji masala (curry powder)
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 2 aloo (potatoes), cut into small cubes
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 chilli, slit (optional)
- 1 cup water
- Salt to taste
- Handful of dhaniya (coriander leaves)
Method
- Temper. Heat the oil in a pot or deep pan. Add the jeera and curry leaves and fry until they crackle.
- Onion and garlic. Add the onion and cook until golden, then add the garlic for 1 minute.
- Masala. Mix the masala and turmeric with a splash of water, add to the pan and fry for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Potatoes. Add the potatoes, tomato, chilli, salt and water. Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
- Tuna. Gently stir in the drained tuna, breaking it into chunks. Simmer uncovered for 3–4 minutes to heat through and thicken.
- Finish with dhaniya and serve with bhaat (rice) or roti.
Tips
- Tinned mackerel works just as well. Add it at the same stage as the tuna.
- Add vegetables: peas, eggplant or long beans go in with the potatoes.
- Don't over-stir once the tuna is in, or it will break down completely.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use tuna in oil or brine?
Either works. Tuna in oil gives a richer curry; drain it well either way.
Can I make it with fresh fish?
Yes. Add cubes of firm white fish in step 5 and simmer for 5–6 minutes until just cooked.
Cook it with Domalco
Find pots, cookware and everything for the Indian kitchen at our Ba and Lautoka stores, or shop online with free delivery on orders over $100.
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