Caribbean Fish Curry Recipe {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free} (2024)

Last Updated on By Vicky 44 Comments

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Caribbean Fish Curry is a one pot meal ready in 30 minutes that is a creamy blend of coconut milk, tomatoes, curry spices and tender red snapper. Both Gluten Free and Dairy Free.

Caribbean fish curry is going to be your new favorite 30 minute weeknight meal. I made this recipe for the first time while house sitting in Costa Rica, and finding alternatives for my favorite salmon and tuna. All I could get my hands on was snapper so I needed some new snapper recipes.

Since I knew I couldn’t have my smoked salmon rice bowl, or Asian salmon salad, or any paleo salmon recipes for that matter, I would have to come up with some new fish recipes. So using my vegan butternut squash curry as an idea, I decided I wanted to create a red snapper fish curry – more accurately this Caribbean fish curry.

Is red snapper easy to find in the US? Is it expensive? I don’t even remember. I feel like its not a super common fish though. Help me out here. Am I right?

Well here in Costa Rica it seems to be just plentiful. Just the other day D and I took the ATV to the beach – yepour only mode of transport around here is an ATV, and we do in fact ride it all through the dirt road village, cross a highway (more like a one lane asphalted road) and turn onto another dirt road to reach the beach.

On the way there we passed by a small house which had been pointed out to us as the local fish market. Hmm, well being the foodie that I am, I had to at least take a look around. In a big cooler they had a bunch of freshly caught fish – mostly red snapper. I quickly asked for a whole fish as well as a few fillets. Luckily I was able to communicate that I wanted the whole fish scaled by the fish monger.

Have you tried scaling a fish yourself? Without any of the proper equipment? In a tiny tiny kitchen? Unknowingly I had purchased several whole fish a few weeks ago while on vacation with D’s family and therefore had to take on the miserable task of scaling the fish with dull knives. Cue fish scales coating my body and my dress permanently smelling like the sea.

Nope I will not be doing that again. Also no easy task to make fillets out of a whole fish with a dull knife. I’ve tried it once, gotten that checked off the list, won’t be doing that again (at least not with a set of butter knives). Leave it to the professionals.

Happily seated on the ATV with my fresh fish we made our way back to the house. After a bit of mental recipe brainstorming I settled on a Caribbean fish curry as my meal of choice.

A dish I never make that has been inspired by my travels to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and Panama. The cuisine differs from that of the Pacific side in the use of Caribbean flavors and coconut milk. I had several incredibly fragrant coconut based curries while on that side of the country and it quickly popped into my mind as a recipe I needed to recreate.

Probably not quite an authentic traditional recipe and more of my own take either way, this Caribbean fish curry was rich, creamy, fragrant and flavorful. The red snapper is a firm and mild white fish that blends in with the creamy undertones of the curry, tomatoes and coconut milk.

The optional element to this Caribbean Fish Curry is the pan frying of the fish. I chose to pan fry the red snapper fillets for a few minutes separately just to get a bit of a crispy crust on them. This is entirely optional though. You can instead, season the fish, cut into bite sized pieces and add directly to the curry.

If you’re thinking of what to serve for dessert after this Caribbean fish curry dinner check out my pomegranate coconut chia pudding.

If you’re looking for other super quick weeknight fish recipes check out my seared Chilean sea bass recipe, Oven Baked Trout, Mok Pa Recipe, Asian noodle bowls with sesame fish, Broiled Whole Red Snapper Recipeand quick Mexican tuna salad.

How to make Caribbean fish curry

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Caribbean Fish Curry Recipe {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free} (4)

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Caribbean Fish Curry

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

30 mins

This Caribbean Fish Curry recipe is a one pot meal ready in 30 minutes that is a creamy blend of coconut milk, tomatoes, curry spices and tender red snapper. Both Gluten Free and Dairy Free.

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:Fish, gluten free, Healthy

Servings: 4

Calories: 257 kcal

Author: Vicky Berman

Ingredients

  • 1tablespoonextra virgin olive oil
  • 1small oniondiced
  • 3clovesgarlicchopped
  • 2red bell pepperschopped (about 2 cups)
  • 1 tomatochopped (1 cup)
  • 1-2teaspoonsalt
  • 1/2teaspoonblack pepper
  • 1/2teaspooncrushed red pepper flakes
  • 1teaspooncurry powder
  • 1teaspooncumin
  • 1 15ozcan diced tomatoes
  • 1can coconut milk
  • For the fish:
  • 1and 1/2 pounds red snapper filletor other firm white fish
  • squeeze of lime juice
  • sprinkling of saltblack pepper and cumin
  • For garnish: lime juice and cilantro

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook for a couple minutes.

  2. Add garlic, cook until fragrant

  3. Add diced bell peppers, cook for 1 minute.

  4. Add tomatoes, salt, black peppers, crushed red pepper flakes, cumin and curry powder. Cook for 2 minutes, mixing everything together.

  5. Add can of diced tomatoes, increase heat to high and bring to a boil.

  6. Add coconut milk in 3 parts, adding 1/3 at a time, bring the mixture to a boil and then adding the 2nd and 3rd part. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

  7. Season fish with salt, black pepper, cumin and a squeeze of lime juice.

  8. Optional: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a pan over medium-high heat and add fish once pan is hot. Pan fry for 3-4 minutes per side. Cut fish into bite sized pieces and add to the curry.

  9. Instead, cut the fish into bite sized pieces and add directly to the curry.

  10. Cook the curry for a few more minutes until fish is cooked through.

  11. Serve garnished with lime juice and cilantro.

Nutrition Facts

Caribbean Fish Curry

Amount Per Serving

Calories 257Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 62mg21%

Sodium 857mg37%

Potassium 1106mg32%

Carbohydrates 12g4%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 36g72%

Vitamin A 2175IU44%

Vitamin C 92mg112%

Calcium 109mg11%

Iron 2.2mg12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Caribbean Fish Curry Recipe {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free} (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of coconut milk in curry? ›

Not all milks are made the same and here, we share 4 substitutes for full-fat coconut milk.
  1. Low Fat / Diluted Coconut Milk. If you're counting calories but can't bear to sacrifice the fabulousness of a coconut milk Thai curry, then this is the hack for you. ...
  2. Cow's Milk. ...
  3. Nut Milk. ...
  4. Soy Milk.

Can you use oat milk in curry? ›

Stir in the Thai red curry paste. When it's thoroughly mixed in, add in the oat milk. Simmer over medium heat or lower to maintain a soft simmer till the veggies are soft, but still have a firmness, about 5 minutes.

Can you freeze curry with coconut milk? ›

If coconut milk is used in a curry sauce then generally it should freeze without any major problems as the other ingredients will help to stabilise the milk a bit but there is always a risk it will split slightly when thawed - the risk increases if the coconut milk is a high proportion of sauce ingredients and also the ...

How do you reheat cod curry? ›

The best way to reheat any type of seafood is in the oven at a low temperature. Ovens radiate a steady amount of heat that evenly reheats food. Your seafood will smell just as good as the first night since the slow reheating process does not breakdown fatty oils like the microwave does.

What is a dairy-free alternative to coconut milk? ›

Fortunately, soy, almond, and oat milk are excellent substitutes since they are naturally dairy-free and have a similar consistency. So, you don't have to worry if your recipe calls for coconut milk. You can easily swap in another non-dairy milk for coconut milk at a one-to-one ratio.

Can you skip coconut milk in curry? ›

If you prefer to go the coconut-free route (or if you don't have coconut shreds, cream, oil, water, or butter on hand), you can use plain old milk — whichever kind you prefer. Whatever you're making won't have the same flavor as it would with coconut, which may make things like curries taste a little flat.

What milk is best for curry? ›

Coconut milk or cream

Coconut milk is a vegan option for all curries. You can also try adding a splash of milk, if that's all you have to hand. Milk contains a protein called casein which actually breaks down capsaicin and makes it less spicy – both full-fat and skimmed do the trick nicely.

Can you substitute milk in curry? ›

Try adding fresh milk or skimmed milk as substitute... It really works. I personally tried many other ingredients to replace the coconut milk while making Malaysian curry... Milk works the best for me.

Why oat milk instead of dairy? ›

Oat milk contains a good quantity of fatty acids, protein, minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber, and a variety of micronutrients and provides several health benefits, as it reduces blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, and prevents cancer (Jeske et al., 2018). Therefore, oats are a promising alternative to traditional milk.

Can fish curry be kept overnight? ›

Yes it's absolutely safe..in fact many south Indians especially from Nellore Andhra who eats 🐟 fish make the curry in the evening and next day morning they eat it ..in fact I have a special kadai steel broader one and I cook fish curry in that..and I keep it mostly overnight and we eat it next day heating it..

Can I reheat cooked fish curry? ›

You might have had a wonderful dinner with your favourite fish curry or soup and now you want to save the leftovers for the next day. But, can you reheat fish? No wonder you can. You can safely reheat your fish after it has been cooked.

How long does fish curry last in fridge? ›

Leftovers of the fish curry will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Transfer leftovers to the fridge as soon as possible and within 2 hours of cooking. Reheat in a saucepan over a low heat until piping hot. But please note that the fish will break up into smaller flakes on reheating.

Can I refrigerate fish curry? ›

Cooked meat, poultry, and fish curries can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. However, it is important to heat and cool the meat dishes properly before refrigerating them and make sure you store them in airtight containers.

Why does reheated curry taste better? ›

Once the dish cools down, gelatinous collagen material forms a jelly-like substance around chunks of meat. Various flavour compounds get trapped in the jelly so when the dish is reheated, the gelatine melts to create a smooth mouth-feel.

How long does fish curry last unrefrigerated overnight? ›

The best plan is to put leftovers in the refrigerator right after your meal. Food that is sitting out for a party or picnic should be chilled after two hours at typical room temperature. If it's above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) or more, food should not sit out for more than one hour.

How do you thicken curry without coconut milk? ›

Tomato puree/ paste

Adding tomato puree is probably the most common method of thickening curry sauces. Simply add the tomato puree during the cooking process rather than adding it at the end. This will help to thicken your curry or pasta sauce from the beginning, speeding up the cooking time.

How do you thicken Thai curry without coconut milk? ›

If while making the gravy base has become runny, there are a few corrections that can be made:
  1. Adding mashed potatoes, or simmering for some time if the dish has potatoes.
  2. Adding starchy slurry (cornflour, rice flour or plain flour, made into a paste in a couple of spoons of water)
  3. Adding beaten cream.
May 15, 2021

What does coconut milk do to curry? ›

Coconut milk or water both give the dish different tastes and consistency. Coconut milk as a curry sauce base makes the dish creamy, sweet and give it a thicker consistency. The sweetness of the milk reduces the sharpness of spices and heat making the dish a little mild.

Can you make curry with heavy cream instead of coconut milk? ›

Coconut milk and cream are mostly interchangeable in recipes such as curries and soups. If you prefer a richer flavour and texture, try coconut cream or vice versa. However, be careful when substituting coconut milk and cream in baked goods.

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