Keeping it Hot

Internet access down for a week or so. It is a pleasure to be back

We're going to heat up the neighborhood today by doing curried sunfish with plenty of garlic and onions and jalapeno peppers. You cook curry powder as you you do paprika to get the full depth of flavor. Gently saute'/carmelize onions in oil, add curry powder and continue to cook on low for about 5 minutes. Paprika is a whole different spice when you cook it this way and so is curry powder. It has completeness of flavor that is deeply satisfying and there is no shortcut to get it. Be generous with curry powder - 3 tablespoons- or to your personal taste.

At this point you traditionally would add cream or coconut milk, but its too cold and also unnecessary . Add enough flour to absorb the oil in your pan( a couple tablespoons), stir and simmer a couple of minutes, then add milk and stir till you have the desired consistency - the thin side of thick in a nice sauce/gravy.

Two ways to cook the fish. Either pan fry crispy( flour, cracker crumbs, etc) and serve on the side with rice and curry sauce, or simmer/poach the fish filets in the curry sauce.

Notes: Add extra cayenne or crushed red pepper to curry sauce for additional heat. Add peppers to onions when the onions are half done, and garlic too. Low heat is required in order that you do not burn the curry powder or onions or garlic.