Nethili Fry recipe or Anchovy Fry is a super crispy fish fry recipe that goes amazing with hot plain rice and rasam. It is a famous appetizer in the Kerala and Kanyakumari regions. This Nethili fry is used as a starter and side dish as well.
There are so many variations in making this Nethili fry but I have made using South Indian spice mixtures. It is a quick shallow fry recipe that can be made within 15 to 20 mins. I haven’t removed the mid bone since the bone in the anchovy is soft and eatable.
When you marinate and shallow fry them, they will become super crispy so that the bones are edible to eat. Make sure to wash them a couple of times with a bit of turmeric powder so that they will be even neater.
Whenever I buy nethili fish, I always prefer to fry some of them since they are my all-time favourite recipes. Compared to all other fish fries, this will take less time to prepare. Here, I have given clear steps to prepare them so do try them at your home and let me know how it turned out for you.
You may also like my other Side Dish recipes and Fry Recipes.
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Nethili Fry
Equipment
- Any type of Pan
Ingredients
- 1 bowl Washed Nethili fish
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Coriander Powder
- 1 tsp Pepper Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- Salt to Taste
- Few Curry leaves
- 3 tbsp Coconut oil for cooking
Instructions
MARINATING THE ANCHOVIES
- Place the washed nethili fish on the wide plate.
- Add all the spice powders to the fish.
- Mix them well with your hands and marinate for at least 15 to 30 mins
TO MAKE NETHILI FRY RECIPE
- Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves. Let them get fried well.
- Add the marinated nethili fish to the pan and gently spread them evenly on the pan.
- Allow the fish to fry slowly on a low to medium flame.
- Once the bottom turned crisp and fried, then gently turn them upside down with a smooth ladle to prevent the fish from breakage.
- Repeat this process until the anchovies fried well.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Adding curry leaves to this recipe is completely optional but adding them will give a nice flavour to the recipe.
- Adding spice powders can be adjusted as per your taste.
PICTURE GUIDANCE FOR MAKING NETHILI FRY RECIPE
MARINATING THE ANCHOVIES / NETHILI
Wash the nethili fish and keep them ready.
Place the washed nethili fish on the wide plate and add all the spice powders to the fish.
Mix them well with your hands and marinate for at least 15 to 30 mins.
TO MAKE NETHILI FRY RECIPE
Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves. Let them get fried well.
Add the marinated nethili fish to the pan and gently spread them evenly on the pan.
Allow the fish to fry slowly on a low to medium flame.
Once the bottom turned crisp and fried, then gently turn them upside down with a smooth ladle to prevent the fish from breakage. Repeat this process until the anchovies fried well.
Nethili Fry recipe is ready to serve hot.
