Fish Curry With Star Anise

ByShashi CharlesUpdated on April 9, 2025

This Fish Curry With Star Anise is fragrant and flavor-packed. In it, fish is simmered in a deliciously spiced coconut and tomato broth. It pairs so well with roti and rice.

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A Flavor Packed Fish Curry With Anise @RunninSrilankan

I simply love listening to talk radio on my long commutes during the day. It doesn’t matter to me if the talk revolves around politics, religion, or money – it doesn’t matter to me if I am for or against whatever the topic might be. I simply love listening to talk radio! My daughter thinks I have issues; but, I think the talking keeps me alert because, unlike the lyrics to a song, I have no clue what might be said next.

Take yesterday, for instance, one radio host had listeners call in and answer this question: “If you could forget about one chore for the rest of your life – while doubling up on another, what would those respective chores be?”

People called in offering to forget about doing dishes, laundry, paying bills, etc.; but, the second part of that question remained unanswered.

The rich color of this curry is from the paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne and turmeric I dredged the fish with before cooking them in a tomato, ginger, garlic, onion and coconut milk sauce. @RunninSrilankan

For the rest of my drive, I couldn’t stop speculating about that second part of the question. Now, there aren’t a whole lot of chores I detest, and the ones I love, I am not sure I would want to double up on, so to speak.

I love the mental wind-down cooking gives me, but I am not sure I’d want to cook 2 full meals every night after work; I also happen to love yard-work; but, I live in a tiny house on almost an acre of land – that’s a lot of land to mow X 2 -with a pushmower! And then it hit me!

This month’s Recipe Redux challenge for members was to look through our cabinets and find an “ingredient/spice/condiment” that had been forgotten about and “give it the attention it needs”.

Well, I get around to cleaning out my spice cabinet maybe twice a year – sometimes even less (shame on me -huh?!). Oftentimes, I wish I cleaned it out more as I seem to find forgotten treasures in there when I do – only, by then they have passed their expiry date.

Now, if I could double up on cleaning out my spice cabinet, I would remember to use the Star Anise I found stashed in the back of it, more often!

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A simply rich fish curry, jam packed with spices like paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne, turmeric and star anise! @RunninSrilankan

Most of my exposure to star anise has been in savory dishes like rice-bryani and chicken and fish curries.

While star anise is said to have numerous health benefits -from alleviating respiratory tract infections to digestive issues to colic in babies- I just happen to love the subtle flavor it ads to curries like this fish one.

What are the ingredents needed to make this easy fish curry?

The ingredient list is a long one – but, you will use these spices in so many dishes from this blog.

2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
2 teaspoons cayenne
1 teaspoon turmeric
4 pieces fish of your choice I used tilapia
1/2 onion chopped
1 inch piece of ginger chopped
3 cloves garlic chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
2-3 pieces star anise
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 can of coconut milk 13.5 fl oz
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix together the paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne, and turmeric and rub into both sides of the fish fillets.
Add olive oil to a pan and when warm, add the chopped onion, garlic, and ginger and saute for about 10-12 minutes over a medium flame
Add the spice coated fish fillets and saute for about 3 minutes on one side.
Flip the fish over and then add the tomato paste, star anise, and coconut milk and let sauce simmer down for about 10-12 minutes.
Serve warm – with rice or naan or roti

Here’s hoping y’all give this a try, because, in my humble opinion, spiced up fish is wonderful to end the day with!

Thanks so much for stopping by. If you make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think of it, or tag your creation on social media with @savoryspin or #savoryspin.
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