For days when the lazy mood takes over, here’s an easy one pot fish and rice meal with potatoes you can make at home. This simple homemade dish gives you everything in one pan with less work and great flavor.
Do you know why I felt like posting this recipe? A few days ago, someone asked for the recipe after seeing this meal in one of my earlier posts. I had made it before, but honestly, I couldn’t remember exactly how I made it. Because meals like this… I make them in different ways depending on the day. This kind of one pot fish and rice recipe is always flexible and easy to adjust. 😁
Then I searched properly to find the recipe again. 🙃 Luckily for the person who asked, I somehow found it. So I thought I should share it with everyone once more. Sometimes the tastiest meals come from those random kitchen experiments. 😍
This is how I make One Pot Fish, Potato & Rice 👇🏻
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Meal
✔ Easy to make
✔ Full meal in one pot
✔ Less cleaning afterward
✔ Great for busy days
✔ Rich homemade flavor
Ingredients
🍚 Rice & Protein
- 2 cups rice
- 4 pieces boneless fish
- 2 large potatoes
🧅 Aromatics & Fresh Ingredients
- 1 large onion (sliced)
- 2–3 green chilies
- 1 ripe tomato
- 3 garlic cloves
- small piece of ginger
- curry leaves
- pandan leaf
🥥 Liquids
- 1 cup thick coconut milk
- water (as needed)
🌶 Spices & Seasoning
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp roasted curry powder
- ½ tsp raw curry powder
- ¼ tsp coriander powder
- salt (to taste)
- pepper powder
- ½ tsp soy sauce (optional)
- lime juice
Method
Step 1 – Soak the Rice
- Wash the rice well. Add enough water to cover it and let it soak for about 20 minutes.
Step 2 – Prepare & Marinate
- Place the potato pieces and fish pieces in a bowl.
Add:
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Turmeric powder
- Soy sauce (if using)
- A little lime juice
- Mix well, cover, and keep it in the fridge for a while so it can season nicely.
Step 3 – Prepare Ingredients
- Slice the onion finely.
- Cut the green chilies in half.
- Cut the tomato into small cubes.
- Grind the garlic and ginger together into a paste.
- Keep all these ready on a plate.
- Also keep the curry leaves, pandan leaf, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon ready.
- Keep the coconut milk ready too.
Step 4 – Fry Fish & Potatoes
- After 20 minutes, drain the soaked rice fully.
- Heat a large pan with butter, oil, or ghee.
- Add the fish and potato pieces. Fry on low heat, turning both sides gently, until lightly golden.
- Move the fried fish and potatoes to the sides of the pan.
Step 5 – Build the Flavor Base
In the middle of the pan, add:
- Curry leaves
- Pandan leaf
- Cardamom
- Cloves
- Let them fry for a few seconds.
- Then add the ginger garlic paste, onion, green chilies, and cinnamon.
- Cook on low heat until fragrant.
- Add the tomato and cook until softened.
- Now gently mix everything together.
Step 6 – Add Tomatoes & Spices
Add:
- Chili powder
- Turmeric powder
- Roasted curry powder
- Raw curry powder
- Coriander powder
- Mix well.
- If you have garam masala or biryani masala powder, you can use that too. If using those, you do not need to add all the curry powders.
- Now add the drained rice and mix carefully.
- Taste and adjust salt if needed. This rice tastes best when the salt is just right. Since the fish was already seasoned, add salt carefully.
Step 7 – Cook & Serve
- Let the rice fry lightly for a short time while stirring gently.
- Pour in the coconut milk.
- Add enough extra water to cook the rice normally.
- Cover and cook until the rice is fully done.
- Once cooked, let it rest for a few minutes, then enjoy it warm. This one pot rice recipe is perfect when you want something filling without spending too much time in the kitchen.
(These quantities are enough for about 2 people.)
Helpful Tips
✔ Use firm fish pieces so they do not break easily.
✔ Do not stir too much after adding the fish.
✔ Let the rice rest after cooking for better texture.
✔ Coconut milk gives the best rich flavor.
✔ Serve warm for an easy and comforting fish rice dinner.
This meal is delicious on its own, but if you like a spicy side dish, it also goes very well with our Coconut Sambol (Pol Sambol) – Easy Sri Lankan Recipe.
Why One Pot Meals Are Great 😉
This one pot fish and rice meal is a great option when you want something quick, filling, and easy to cook at home.
✔ Saves time
✔ Saves effort
✔ Saves gas
✔ Less washing up
✔ Full meal in one pot
And the best part… no need to make a separate curry. 🙈😂
More Ingredients You Can Add 👇🏽
- Proteins
- Chicken
- Fish
- Prawns
- Squid
- Eggs
- Dried fish
- Anchovies
- Paneer
- Vegetables
- Carrot
- Potato
- Eggplant
- Pumpkin
- Beans
- Sweet potato
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
- Cauliflower
- Beans & Lentils
- Red lentils
- Split chickpeas
- Green gram
- Cowpeas
- Chickpeas
- Red beans
- Greens
- Leeks
- Spring onions
- Cabbage leaves
- Coriander leaves
- Parsley
- Spinach
FAQ
- What rice works best for this recipe?
Samba, Basmati, or Nadu rice all work well.
- Can I use chicken instead of fish?
Yes, chicken works very well in this one pot meal.
- Can I make it less spicy?
Yes, reduce the chilies and chili powder to suit your taste.
- What can I serve with this meal?
It tastes great on its own, but sambol or a simple salad also works well.
Final Note ❤️
This is one of those meals you can make differently every time depending on what you have at home. That is what makes it special.
If you enjoy easy fish snacks too, you may also like our Easy Sri Lankan Fish Patties – Crispy, Flaky Short Eats Recipe.
Try it once, make it your own, and enjoy a warm homemade meal without too much work.
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