How to Prepare Delicious Meen Pollichathu- Kerala style fried fish steamed in banana leaf

Meen Pollichathu- Kerala style fried fish steamed in banana leaf. Discover Our Wide Range of Eyelet Curtains at Dunelm. In Store & Online, Buy Today! Find The Perfect Gift At Prezzybox.

It is a flavorful and finger-licking food that can be enjoyed as it is or as a side dish for lunch and dinner. Place one fried fish on top of leaf. To make this Kerala Meen Pollichathu / Fried Fish in Banana Leaf Wrap, place the fish in a wilted Banana leaf, bedded on masala, and then wrap the entire thing in a banana leaf and tie it with banana leaf string, butcher twine, or insert a toothpick to hold it together. You can cook Meen Pollichathu- Kerala style fried fish steamed in banana leaf using 31 ingredients and 15 steps. Here is how you cook it.

Ingredients of Meen Pollichathu- Kerala style fried fish steamed in banana leaf

1. Prepare of full fillets of vanjaram (seer fish).
2. It's of Coconut oil for frying.
3. You need of Banana leaves for steaming.
4. Prepare of Tooth peaks or thread for tying parcels.
5. It's of Onion rings and lime wedge for garnish.
6. Prepare of For the marinade:-.
7. It's of coconut oil.
8. Prepare of green chilli chopped.
9. It's of turmeric powder.
10. Prepare of coriander powder.
11. Prepare of cumin powder.
12. Prepare of Kashmiri red chilli powder.
13. Prepare of garam masala / whole spice powder.
14. You need of salt.
15. Prepare of fish masala powder (optional).
16. Prepare of For the onion masala:-.
17. Prepare of large onions sliced thin.
18. Prepare of curry leaves bunch.
19. You need of green chillies finely chopped.
20. Prepare of ginger finely chopped.
21. It's of large cloves garlic chopped finely.
22. Prepare of salt.
23. You need of red chilli powder.
24. You need of turmeric.
25. You need of fish masala powder.
26. It's of cumin powder.
27. It's of garam masala.
28. You need of coriander powder.
29. It's of Apple cider vinegar.
30. You need of red food colour (optional).
31. You need of Coconut oil for frying.

The distinct smells of the fish and masala will have your mouth watering 🙂 Whenever we think of Kerala, two things come flashing to our minds: Greenery and Food. No wonder Fish dishes in Kerala are stunning delicacies, because days in this land of lakes, rivers and sea start with fish and end with fish. More like the Bengali counterparts, fish and rice is the staple here. But, Karimeen pollichathu is an astounding relish to cherish.

Meen Pollichathu- Kerala style fried fish steamed in banana leaf step by step

1. Make the marinade for the fish ready first. Add all ingredients under marinade to a bowl. Make horizontal gashes or cuts on the fish (3 per piece) to help masala seep in well. Coat each piece of fish front and back well. Let it rest in the fridge for 20 mins..
2. Prep the veggies for onion masala..
3. In a non-stick pan add coconut oil. Throw in the ginger, garlic, green chillies & curry leaves until it turns aromat..
4. Next add the onions to the pan and fry on medium-high flame until it browns well..
5. Now add spices under onion masala to the pan. Mix well..
6. Cover and cook on medium flame until raw smell of chilli powder leaves and oil begins to separate. The onion masala is now ready. Set aside..
7. Fry the marinated fish on both sides with coconut oil until half cooked or for 4 mins (per side) Do not over cook the fish..
8. Cut a big fresh banana leaf into 4 square pieces..
9. Place one fried fish on top of leaf. Place 2 tbsp of the onion masala over it. Spread it all over evenly..
10. Now make parcels with the banana leaves using tooth peaks or thread. Make all 4 parcels this way..
11. Steam the fish parcels 2 by 2 in an idli cooker for 15-20 mins..
12. Once all the steam in cooker evaporates, remove the parcels carefully. Garnish fish fry with onion rings and lime wedge. Serve immediately..
13. Some tips: 1) you can use any fish here but mackerel and seer fish work well for this recipe..
14. 2) instead of fish masala powder you can substitute with little coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder and tamarind water..
15. 3) instead of steaming in idli cooker you can also bake the fish. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius and bake for 15-20 mins after frying..

Here I have made it with Pomfret fish. Meen Pollichathu - It's a traditional Kerala dish prepared (steaming/ frying) by wrapping fried fish with spicy masala in banana leaf. Usually Meen Pollichathu is prepared with Pearl Spot Fish (കരിമീൻ). But this recipe suits for any soft flesh fishes like King Fish (നെയ്‌ മീൻ), മോദ, Pomfret (ആവോലി. Flip the parcel in between by sprinkilng water.