Abihi Riha ( Fish Curry using Goraka)

As promised in my previous post, here is the recipe I learned from a local TV channel during the past fasting month. I am not sure how authentic it is but the lady who made this was middle-aged so hopefully, I am sure its an old Maldivian recipe.  The goraka is pounded to paste along with other spices and then used to marinate the fish. It gave a unique taste to the dish and it is a pretty simple recipe.

Recipe: Abihi Riha ( Fish Curry with Goraka) recipe from Rahathafaathu as shown on TVM

300g Tuna, cut into bite-size cubes ( if tuna is unavailable you can try any firm fish such as swordfish)
3-4 pieces of goraka ( abihi)
1 large onion, sliced
1/2 inch piece of ginger, sliced
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp red chilli powder or cayenne powder
2 tsp freshly ground cumin
1/4- 1/2 scotch bonnet roughly chopped
8-10 curry leaves
3" pandan leaf cut into big pieces
1/2 cup water
salt
oil

1. Soak your goraka in boiling hot water for about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Drain the water.

2. Place 1/2 of the sliced onions, garlic ginger, chilli powder, cumin powder and goraka along with 1/4 cup water with a pinch of salt into a blender or a wet grinder and grind to a fine paste.

3. Pour the ground spice blend onto the tuna pieces and mix well, set aside for 10 minutes.

4. Heat about 3 tbsp of oil in a  pan, saute' your remaining sliced onions with curry leaves and pandan leaves till the onions go translucent and just start to turn golden. Add scotch bonnets and stir fry 1 minute. Add the tuna along with the marinade and 1/2 cup of water. Stir and cook covered over medium heat, stirring occasionally, after 10 minutes remove the lid and cook a further 5 to 8  minutes till the liquid is almost dry. Taste add salt to taste and switch off.

 This is a dry curry so best served with some crusty bread or flatbreads. Enjoy!!

Note:  I did try making it with tamarind but the taste was not quite the same. 

Goraka is available at STO , some of the good supermarkets and also in Maldivian homeopathy shops (dhivehi beys fihaara)