Clean the fish well and make 3 to 4 gashes (slits) in it. Crush the whole pepper & fenugreek in a mortar pestle and marinate the fish along with salt, turmeric & asafoetida powder. Add 1 tbsp of tamarind water. Rest this marinade for 10min.

Keep a pressure cooker on medium flame and add coconut oil. Add crushed garlic, green chillies & curry leaves. Saute well. Place the marinated fish one by one & side by side. Add the remaining tamarind water along the sides of the fish. Ensure that the fish is half bathed in tamarind water since we are pressure cooking it. Close the lid & increase the flame and cook till 2 whistles. Switch off the flame.