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Authentic kerala style meen pollichathu

Meen pollichathu - kerala style

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Side Dish, Starters
Cuisine Indian
Servings 3 people

Ingredients
  

For marination

  • 2 tsp Lemon juice / எலுமிச்சை சாறு
  • 1 tbsp red chilly powder
  • 1/2 tsp 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • required Salt
  • 2 tsp coconut oil

For masala paste

  • 100 g Shallots / சிறிய வெங்காயம்
  • 10-12 peeled Garlic cloves / பூண்டு பற்கள்
  • 2 Tomatoes / தக்காளி

For gravy

  • 2 tsp coconut oil
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin seeds / சீரகம்
  • few Curry Leaves / கறிவேப்பிலை
  • 10-12 chopped Shallots / சிறிய வெங்காயம்
  • masala paste
  • 1 tsp Chilly Powder / மிளகாய் தூள்
  • 1 tsp Coriander Powder / மல்லித்தூள்
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
  • required Salt

Meen pollichathu

  • Fish I took para fish
  • banana leaves

Instructions
 

  • I tool para meen to make this pollichathu. In a bowl add juice of one lemon.
  • Add 1 tbsp red chilly powder, 1/4 th tsp turmeric and required salt
  • You can also add coriander powder.
  • Add 2 tsp of coconut oil. coconut oil makes the masala to bind well and gives nice flavor and taste
  • Mix well without any lumps
  • Add little water and make thick paste. The masala paste for marination is ready.
  • Now apply the masala on the fish. Marinate for 1/2 -1 hour. Apply all over the fish and in between cuts.
  • Preheat tawa, add oil and fry the marinated fish
  • As the fish is big keep in low flame and cook properly.
  • Turn both sides gently and cook the fish. The fish is almost cooked. Remove from tawa and keep aside.
  • Next let us grind and make a paste for making pollichathu. Add a handfull of shallots.
  • Add 10-12 peeled garlic cloves, 2 tomatoes and grind to fine paste. Keep aside
  • Onion, garlic and tomato paste is ready.
  • In a pan add the oil used to fry the fish or 2 tsp oil.
  • Add 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • Add few curry leaves
  • Add shallots and Saute well
  • Add prepared onion and tomato paste
  • Add a tsp of red chilly powder, Add a tsp of coriander powder, Add 1/4 th tsp turmeric powder, Add 1/4 tsp pepper powder, Add required salt and mix well.
  • Let it cook well till oil oozes out do not add water
  • Now the gravy is ready
  • Now heat the banana leaf so that its easy to fold
  • Place the banana leaf, Add the gravy prepared.
  • Place the fried fish on it, Again keep the gravy on the top of the fish. Apply all over.
  • Place a banana leaf on top
  • Cover and wrap the fish gently and tie it. Secure it well as we are going to fry this fish banana leaf wrap in tawa.
  • Add coconut oil
  • Place on tawa keep in low flame and fry both sides
  • After frying both sides for about 10 mins switch off and keep aside
  • Meen Pollichathu is ready serve hot
  • Spicy and yummy kerala style Meen Pollichathu