Winter favourite · 30 minutes
Fish Karahi Recipe (Spicy Pakistani Machli Karahi)
Firm fish. Fry first. Masala, then fish.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenFish karahi is a winter favourite: firm fish in a thick, spicy tomato karahi masala. The fish breaks into flakes when it cooks in the masala. The fix is a firm white fish, frying the marinated pieces first, making the masala separately, and folding the fish in for just two minutes.
The 3 laws of fish karahi
Why this recipe works
Soft fish
Holds its shape.
Cook raw in masala
Stays whole.
Stir hard
No flakes.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Fish
Masala
The NineFoods fish gauge
Is the fish done?
Press a piece with a spatula.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Marinate and fry
- Marinate fish 15 minutes; shallow fry until golden. Use the gauge above.
Masala
- Fry ginger garlic and ajwain, add tomatoes and spices; bhuno until thick.
Combine
- Fold in fish, add ginger, chillies and lemon.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Soft fish or stirring.
Fix next time
Firm fish, fold gently.
Why
No lemon or ajwain.
Fix next time
Use both.
Why
Masala not reduced.
Fix next time
Bhuno until thick.
Why
Overfried.
Fix next time
Fry briefly.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Rahu | Main | Cod, sole, basa or salmon |
| Ajwain | Aroma | Cumin |
| Besan | Coating | Cornflour |
| Frying | Cooking | Bake at 220 C |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Naan and lemon.
Store
Fridge 1 day.
Reheat
Gently in the masala.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the fish done) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Fish Karahi FAQ
Which fish is best for karahi?
A firm white fish like rahu, sole or cod.
How do I stop fish breaking?
Fry it first and fold it in at the end.
Why add ajwain?
It cuts the fishy smell.
Can I use salmon?
Yes, it holds well.