Nethili Karuvadu Tokku embodies the bold and unapologetic flavours of South Indian coastal cuisine. This anchovy sambal is not just spicy — it’s layered with heat, tanginess from tamarind, sweetness from jaggery, and deep richness from gingely oil. Whether you’re a seafood lover or someone chasing nostalgic home-cooked flavours, this dish is for you.
At SangarySarangan.com, we don’t just cook—we tell food stories. This recipe is a staple in many Tamil households and goes perfectly with hot rasam and white rice. Add this Nethili Karuvadu Tokku to your weekend meal plan and taste the comfort of tradition.
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Nethili Karuvadu Tokku
- Bursting with bold spices
- Perfect combo of spicy, sweet, and sour
- Made using Sampradas Wood Cold-Pressed Gingely Oil for deep authentic flavour
- Easy to store and enjoy as leftovers
- Best served with simple rasam, curd rice or even dosa
📋 Ingredients
- 300g Anchovies (Cleaned and Washed)
- 2 tbsp Sampradas Wood Cold-Pressed Gingely Oil
- Whole Spices: 1 tbsp Fenugreek Seeds, 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 2 Large Red Onions, sliced
- 10 Garlic Cloves, crushed
- 1 Red Chilli, slit
- Handful of Curry Leaves
- 2 Tomatoes, chopped
- 1 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
- 2 tsp Jaggery
- 2 tbsp Sampradas Kashmiri Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Sampradas Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp Sampradas Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Sampradas Cumin Powder
- Tamarind Pulp (2 pieces diluted in ½ cup water)
- Chopped Coriander Leaves (for garnishing)
🔥 Preparation Method
- First, fry the anchovies in gingely oil until crisp. Once done, set aside.
- Then, in the same pan, add more oil if needed. Next, add mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds. Let them splutter.
- Now, add onions, garlic, red chilli, curry leaves and salt. Sauté until onions turn translucent.
- After that, add chopped tomatoes. Cook until soft and pulpy.
- Next, add in all Sampradas spice powders and mix well.
- Also, pour in diluted tamarind pulp and cook on medium flame until the oil separates.
- Stir in jaggery and additionally, adjust salt.
- Add the fried anchovies and gently coat them in the thick sambal.
- Finally, garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot.
🍚 Serving Suggestion
This Nethili Karuvadu Tokku is best served with:
- Steaming hot rasam rice
- Simple curd rice
- Soft dosas or idlis
- As a side for festive banana leaf meals
🌿 Made with Sampradas Essentials
We used Sampradas Gingely Oil and Sampradas spice powders in this Nethili Karuvadu Recipe recipe to ensure purity, freshness, and full-bodied taste. Want to explore more recipes using Sampradas products?
👉 Check out our Peri Peri Chicken Recipe
Looking for something milder or Chinese-style instead?
Try our comforting and flavour-packed Braised Tofu with Vegetables — a wholesome dish with umami-rich soy sauce and delicate textures. Perfect for weekday dinners!
💡 Tips & Variations
- Replace anchovies with other dried fish (karuvadu) if preferred
- Adjust jaggery and tamarind to match your spice tolerance
- Store in an airtight container; it tastes even better the next day!
📸 Pin This Recipe
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Tried it? Tag us on Instagram @sangarysarangan — we’d love to see your version!