Tamilnadu Special Authentic Karuvadu Thokku

கருவாடு தொக்கு – Karuvadu Thokku

Karuvadu thokku is a traditional South Indian dish from Tamil Nadu. It combines karuvadu with a thick, spicy, and tangy onion & tomato semi solid masala. This is a good combination for rice/ idly. It doesn’t take much time to cook. I love this type of thokku.

Ingredients for Karuvadu Thokku

Nethili karuvadu/ Dry anchovies – 250g
Small onion – 1.5 cups (chopped)
Garlic – 5 pods
Cumin – 1/4 tsp
Dry red chilli – 5
Tamarind – small gooseberry size
Tomato – 2
Oil – 1 tbs + 3 tbs
Turmeric – 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder – 2 tsp
Coriander powder – 2 tsp
Curry leaves – 1 spring
Cilantro – garnish

Directions

Pre-preparation

Soak the dry fish in water for 15 minutes.
Also soak the tamarind in water until soft.
Clean the karuvadu for 2 or 3 times in water.
Just remove the dust/ sand.
Don’t over clean or rinse the karuvadu, that makes karuvadu break down.
If your karuvadu have head, take out that now.
Also pull the intestine (black colour stripe) along with head.

Grinding Masala

Heat the pan and add 1 tbs oil.
Add garlic and saute a minute .
Now add onion and saute for another minute (don’t need to cook completely).
Finally add tomatoes and saute (half cook the tomatoes).
Let the mixture cool down completely.
Grind the masala to fine paste.

Thokku

Heat pan in medium flame.
Pour 3 tbs oil and add cumin seeds.
Add the curry leaves and dry red chillies.
After the curry leaves popped, add ground masala.
Now add other spices, salt, little bit of water and tamarind extract.
Mix everything together and let the spices cook for 10 minutes.
Now add the cleaned dry fish.
Mix the karuvadu and let the spices coat all over the karuvadu.
Cook the karuvadu for another 5 minutes.
Switch off the flame now.
Garnish the gravy with cilantro.
Karuvadu thokku ready.
Serve the thokku with rice/ idly.