• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Honey, Whats Cooking

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
    • Shop
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipe » Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    Posted on: Jul 17, 2019 · Modified: Jan 15, 2023 by honeywhatscooking · 15 Comments

    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    73 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Spicy Fish Masala is prepared with wild sole cooked in tomatoes and Indian spices. Alternatively, you may use cod, halibut, snapper, catfish. I always recommend using 'wild' fish.
    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    Being married to a Food Blogger

    ​Hey Guys, it's Sanjiv (aka... Mr. HoneyWhatsCooking). Yes my name changed after I married Nisha. 🙂 It's been almost 2 years since we've been married, and my friends are always asking me what's life like being married to Mrs. HoneyWhatsCooking. Well, let me tell you I love the gourmet meals that Nisha prepares for me. She has a very creative and innovative mind when it comes to cooking. So what comes with her experimenting on different dishes you may ask?.... it's me being the guinea pig lol. That's right. I'm the guy who tastes all those concoctions she comes up with in the kitchen.
    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    The Taste Test

    When the food comes out great I know Nisha is going to be happy. However, if it comes out not so great, she'll get upset and pout, and guess who has to deal with that....me lol. The main reason for this is because she is very critical of her food and wants to perfect all her dishes before posting them on her blog. When I taste her food I usually rate it from a 1 to 10 scale. And let me tell you if the food isn't at least a 9 or 10 she is going to ask me A LOT of questions.

    Why wasn't it a 10?
    Did you like the taste?
    How was the texture?
    What was missing? uhmm.. like I would know?!?
    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    The good thing about Nisha is that when the food is not a 9 or 10, she doesn't give up on the recipe. She'll make the same dish over and over again until she gets it right. So sometimes I have to eat the same food over and over again until its perfect lol. So what happens when she makes something amazing? I will probably not get to eat it again for quite some time because she quickly moves on to the next recipe. Remember that Honey Glazed Ginger Garlic Salmon (where she talks about our love story) that I loved so much? Well, I haven't had that dish for months!

    Get it while it's HOT

    The other thing which most of you might not know is that I don't get to eat the food while it's fresh and hot. As soon as my wife is done cooking she races to take the perfect picture of the food for her blog and Instagram. So my mouth waters in anticipation while I look at the food getting photographed. I didn't realize people photographed food until I met her lol.
    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    Health is Wealth

    Also, did I mention my wife is super healthy? I have seen how difficult it is for Nisha to keep her recipes healthy (relatively speaking) while still tasting great. She is looking out for our health which I appreciate. I do get to splurge when we have guests over though. That is when she will make the most delicious and unhealthy dishes (full fat and white carbs). So while life with a food blogger seems delicious and fun, there is actually a lot of hard work and experimentation along the way. You really have to take the good with the bad, and I'd say it's mostly good for sure. Nisha works really hard and I'm so proud of her.
    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    Here's a delicious Spicy Fish Masala she recently made with wild sole in a tomato gravy. I enjoy her Indian non-veg dishes the most. It was incredible, and yes I devoured most of it (while it was NOT hot lol). Enjoy guys!

    spicy fish masala is:

    Healthy
    Paleo (skip the rice)
    Low-Carb (skip the rice)
    Gluten-Free
    Dairy-Free
    Loaded with Flavor
    High Protein
    Light & Tender
    Spicy Fish Masala (healthy, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free)

    how to make fish masala step by step?

    Using a coffee grinder, grind the dry spices along with the ginger and garlic. This is your masala.

    Chop the tomatoes and set aside.

    Heat a dutch oven cast-iron pan on medium heat, once hot, add avocado oil. Add the masala mixture. Saute for 30 seconds, make sure the garlic doesn't burn.

    Add the tomatoes. Stir.

    Immediately add the tomato paste. Stir well.

    Cover and cook for 8 minutes on low-medium heat until the tomatoes are cooked through.

    In the meantime, prepare your fish. I used wild sole, alternatively you can use cod, snapper, catfish, or halibut. Any white fish will do.

    Here is your tomato masala mixture. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder.

    Add water. Stir. Bring the liquid mixture to a boil for about 1-2 minutes.

    Once bubbles form, gently add the fish.

    This is what you should have. It's okay if they are a bit crowded. You can use a wider pan.

    Cover and cook the fish on low-medium heat for 10 minutes.

    Once done, check with a fork to make sure the fish is cooked through. Add chat masala and garam masala.

    Garnish with lots of fresh cilantro. Serve hot with brown rice, quinoa, or white rice.

     

    Enjoy!

     

    More Fish Recipes!

    • Blackened Salmon Tacos with Mango Salsa
    • Salmon Panang Curry
    • Hariyali Salmon
    • Baked Chipotle Lime Salmon with Mango Salsa
    • Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Cream Sauce

    Fish Masala

    Healthy, Paleo, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free
    Spicy Fish Masala is prepared with wild sole cooked in tomatoes and Indian spices.
    5 from 6 votes
    Author: Nisha
    Pin Recipe Print Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Indian
    Servings 4 servings

    Equipment

    Le Creuset Dutch Oven 2.75
    Fish Spatula
    Cutting Boards
    Primal Avocado Oil

    Ingredients
      

    for spice blend

    • 4 cloves garlic
    • 1 inch piece ginger
    • 1 green cardamom
    • 2 cloves
    • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
    • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1-2 Indian green chilies
    • ½ inch stick cinnamon

    for fish masala

    • all the blended spices
    • 2 tablespoon avocado oil
    • 3 tomatoes, finely chopped
    • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅓ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
    • 1 cup water
    • 1.4 - 1.5 pounds wild sole, cod, halibut, snapper, catfish will work too
    • ½ teaspoon garam masala
    • garnish with fresh cilantro leaves
    • 1 teaspoon chat masala, I love MDH

    Instructions
     

    • Using a coffee grinder, grind the dry spices along with the ginger and garlic. This is your masala.
    • Chop the tomatoes and set them aside.
    • Heat a dutch oven cast-iron pan on medium heat, once hot, add avocado oil. Add the masala mixture. Saute for 30 seconds, make sure the garlic doesn't burn.
    • Add the tomatoes. Stir.
    • Immediately add the tomato paste. Stir well.
    • Cover and cook on low-medium heat for 8 minutes until the tomatoes are cooked through.
    • In the meantime, prepare your fish. I used wild sole, alternatively, you can use cod, halibut, snapper, catfish. Any white fish will do.
    • Here is your tomato masala mixture, it should turn into a paste-like consistency. Add salt, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and coriander powder.
    • Add water. Stir. Bring the liquid mixture to a boil for about 1-2 minutes until slight bubbles form.
    • Now add the fish.
    • This is what you should have. Use a larger pan, but it's okay if they are a bit crowded.
    • Cover and cook the fish on low-medium heat for 10 minutes.
    • Once done, check with a fork to make sure the fish is cooked through. Add chat masala and garam masala.
    • Garnish with lots of fresh cilantro.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 218kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 23gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 77mgSodium: 870mgPotassium: 625mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1004IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 71mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Fish, Sole
    Tried this recipe?Mention @honeywhatscooking or tag #honeywhatscooking

     

     

    « Quinoa Broccoli Pulao (healthy, vegan, gluten-free, 10 ingredients)
    Tikka Masala Pasta (vegetarian, whole wheat/gluten-free options) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Nida says

      July 17, 2019 at 4:16 am

      5 stars
      I love how Mr. HWC is so real.. You guys really know how to keep things real. Quirks and all.. relatable, genuine fresh content. Nisha your recipes and overall demeanor is awesome.

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        July 18, 2019 at 1:26 am

        Hi Nida! Thanks. We definitely keep it real with each other, too real. Thanks so much for your kind feedback. Greatly appreciate it. xoxo

        Reply
    2. Pooja says

      July 18, 2019 at 1:33 am

      5 stars
      Made this for my husband today and he loved it. He loved the flavor and the spices. Also Mr honeywhatscooking insights into your life were great!

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        July 18, 2019 at 10:43 pm

        Thanks Pooja. I'm so glad to hear that. Awww.. that's so sweet. Yeah, Mr. Hwc is a funny one. 🙂

        Reply
    3. sheenam @ thetwincookingproject says

      July 20, 2019 at 11:32 am

      Looks so sinful. YUM!!!!!!

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        July 23, 2019 at 1:05 am

        Haha.. thanks. It's actually pretty healthy. 🙂 Hope you try it! xoxo

        Reply
    4. Rebecca L Reynolds says

      June 29, 2020 at 2:27 pm

      What can I use instead of chat masala? Are there any other options?

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        June 29, 2020 at 4:04 pm

        Hi Rebecca.

        You can always use mango powder (amchoor).
        If you don't have that, I would just use lime juice or lemon juice on top.
        Chat Masala adds sourness to a dish, so lime or lemon juice will work instead.

        Let me know.

        Reply
      • Rebecca L Reynolds says

        June 29, 2020 at 4:09 pm

        Thank you so much! I just finished it and added lemon juice on top. Ill send you a photo via instagram

        Reply
    5. Rebecca L Reynolds says

      July 01, 2020 at 8:57 am

      5 stars
      The recipe was fantastic! I didn't have chaat masala so used lemon and that gave it the perfect amount of tangyness. The cilantro is a great garnishment on top to bring it all together. I used cod which was so delicious.

      Reply
    6. Sharmeen says

      July 07, 2020 at 11:39 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great recipe and easy to follow! I made this with cod and added half a can of coconut milk for some creaminess and it turned out delicious!

      Reply
    7. helan says

      September 04, 2021 at 3:54 am

      5 stars
      Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        September 05, 2021 at 1:54 am

        Thanks Helan. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. xoxo

        Reply
    8. Vindya says

      June 02, 2022 at 7:09 am

      This is THE cutest post ever! Thanks Mr for supporting the Mrs in all that she does! Thanks Mrs for posting the most delicious recipes! Will try this one next <3

      Reply
      • honeywhatscooking says

        June 03, 2022 at 11:23 am

        Thanks Vindya. Haha, yes made him do a guest post. 🙂 We need more.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Nisha... a foodie who is passionate about healthy-ish living and mindful eating. You'll find a little bit of everything here. I use mostly organic real ingredients and incorporate seasonal produce in my cooking. I believe food is medicine. Come join me on this soul-searching journey as I share my love for good food, and I hope somewhere along the line, I inspire you to eat better.

    Learn more about me →


    Trending Posts

    • Baked Falafel (healthy, dairy free)
    • Green Moong Dal Khichdi (healthy)
    • Chicken Seekh Kebab (dairy-free, gluten-free)
    • Rava Uttapam (vegetarian)
    • Chocolate Depression Cake with Mocha Buttercream (eggless, gluten-free)
    • Masoor Dal Instant Pot (Red Lentils Dal)
    • Hara Bhara Kebab (vegan, healthyish) Hara Bhara Kebab (vegan, healthyish)
    • World's BEST Spaghetti RAO’s Homemade Marinara

    Subscribe

    * indicates required

    Footer

    As Seen On

    Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Menu

    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle
    • Shop

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy

    Subscribe

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Honey, What's Cooking

    73 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Reddit
    • Yummly