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    Home » Non-Veg

    Meen Pollichathu Recipe | Kerala style Fish pollichathu

    Jun 29, 2021 · 10 Comments

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    Meen Pollichathu Recipe | Kerala style Fish Pollichathu recipe with step-by-step pictures and instructions. Meen Pollichathu is a traditional Kerala starter where fish coated with masala is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked. It is popularly known as karimeen Pollichathu because traditionally they use karimeen(pearl spot) fish to make this dish. 

    You can use any variety of fish like seer fish, pomfret fish, Mackeral. Vegetarians can use paneer in the place of fish. Coat the fish with spices and shallow fry. Prepare onion tomato masala separately. Fish and onion tomato masala are alternatively arranged in banana leaves, wrapped, and sealed. Then it is slowly cooked in low flame on both sides.

    The flavor of the fish cooked in banana leaves is so delicious and lip-smacking to serve at parties/guests. Do surprise your guests with this amazing Meen Pollichathu. Check out other Fish recipes from the blog

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    Print

    Meen Pollichathu Recipe | Kerala style Fish pollichathu

    Meen Pollichathu is a traditional Kerala starter where fish coated with masala is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked.
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 50 minutes minutes

    Ingredients

    • Fish 2 whole 300 grams
    • Onion 3 big
    • Tomato 2 medium
    • Garlic 10-12
    • Green chilli 2
    • Ginger garlic paste 1.5 tsp
    • Red chilli powder 2 tsp
    • Coriander powder 1 tsp
    • Turmeric powder ½ tsp
    • Salt as required
    • Garam masala ¼ tsp
    • Curry leaves handful
    • Oil 2.5 tbsp
    • Coriander leaves 3 tbsp finely chopped

    Marination

    • Red chilli powder ¾ tsp
    • Turmeric powder ½ tsp
    • Salt as required
    • Ginger garlic paste ½ tsp
    • Lemon juice ½ tsp

    Instructions

    • Wash and clean the fish by removing all shells.
    • Then slit the fish on both of the sides so masala is coated well with the fish.
    • Mix all the masala given under marination to form a thick paste.
    • Coat the fish with masala and keep it aside for 10 minutes.
    • In the tawa add little oil and shallow fry the fish on both sides till golden.
    • Heat remaining oil and add finely chopped garlic, green chillies, and curry leaves.
    • Then add finely chopped onions and saute till golden.
    • Next, add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes.
    • Then add tomatoes and saute till mushy.
    • Add salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala to it.
    • Add little water to it and cook till masala is nicely coated and oil oozing out.
    • Garnish with coriander leaves and switch off the flame.
    • Delicious onion tomato masala is ready.
    • Take a banana leaf and show it in flame for few seconds to soften it so it doesn't tear while folding.
    • Take a wilted banana leaf and add the masala to it.
    • Place the fish on top of it.
    • Cover it with masala again.
    • Then wrap the banana leaves and fold them. Seal it with a toothpick.
    • Heat a dosa pan or flat pan and place the wrapped banana leaf
    • Close it with a lid and cook on low flame for 4-5 minutes.
    • Flip the fish and cook again for 4-5 minutes.
    • Remove from the flame and serve it hot.
    • Meen pollichathu is ready.

    Notes

    You can use big fish slices too instead of whole fish. Fish fillets also work well.
    Vegetarians can use paneer in the place of fish.
    Adjust spices according to your preference.
    In Kerala, they use coconut oil for frying fish. you can use any type of oil.

    How to make Meen Pollichathu with step by step pictures

    Marinating the Fish

    Wash and clean the fish by removing all shells. Then slit the fish on both of the sides so masala is coated well with the fish.

    Mix all the masala given under marination to form a thick paste.

    Coat the fish with masala and keep it aside for 10 minutes.

    In the tawa add little oil and shallow fry the fish on both sides till golden.

    Preparing Masala

    Heat remaining oil and add finely chopped garlic, green chillies, and curry leaves.

    Then add finely chopped onions and saute till golden.

    Next, add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes.

    Then add tomatoes and saute till mushy.

    Add salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala to it.

    Add little water to it and cook till masala is nicely coated and oil oozing out.

    Garnish with coriander leaves and switch off the flame.

    Delicious onion tomato masala is ready.

    Cooking Fish

    Take a banana leaf and show it in flame for few seconds to soften it so it doesn't tear while folding.

    Take a wilted banana leaf and add the masala to it.

    Place the fish on top of it.

    Cover it with masala again.

    Then wrap the banana leaves and fold them. Seal it with a toothpick.

    Heat a dosa pan or flat pan and place the wrapped banana leaf. Close it with a lid and cook on low flame for 4-5 minutes.

    Flip the fish and cook again for 4-5 minutes.

    Remove from the flame and serve it hot.

    Meen pollichathu is ready.

    If you have tried this recipe and liked it, please do leave your valuable comment and share pictures of the recipe with hashtag #namscorner on Instagram or mail me @namscorner18@gmail.com. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, or subscribe to get regular updates on your mailbox.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Preeti Shridhar says

      July 05, 2021 at 10:40 am

      Fish in banana keaf is a delicacy. You have explained it so well. I will share this recipe with my son to try it out.
      Reply
    2. Sujata Roy says

      July 10, 2021 at 2:09 am

      Fish wrapped in banana leaves sounds similar to our fish paturi. We use mustard poppy seeds green chilli paste instead of onion tomato masala Loved your recipe . Looks superbly delicious. Next time I will try with your onion tomato masala Wonderful recipe.
      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • namscorner says

        July 10, 2021 at 5:24 pm

        Thanks, Sujata. I am going to try the Bengali way sometime.
        Reply
    3. Jayashree T.Rao says

      July 11, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      Fish in banana leaf is something new to me and looks good. I am passing on this recipe to my friend who loves it.
      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Preethicuisine says

      July 17, 2021 at 5:19 am

      Fish wrapped in banana leaf is a delicious treat for all fish lovers. I have tried this with paneer and as you mentioned it tastes amazing . So beautifully explained Narmadha.
      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Preeti Shridhar says

      September 29, 2021 at 7:30 pm

      A very well explained recipe. I am sure it tastes good. I will ask my son to try it .
      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Sasmita Sahoo says

      October 01, 2021 at 5:29 pm

      I always love the Banana leaf wrapping part in many dishes. This fish recipe looks absolutely yum and delicious narmadha !! Love to make sometime
      ★★★★★

      Reply
    7. Poonam Bachhav says

      October 02, 2021 at 7:45 pm

      Kerala style fish pollichattu sounds so flavorful! Love the fragrance and taste Banana leaf imparts to the dishes cooked in it
      ★★★★★

      Reply
    8. Bibi Murdock says

      July 07, 2023 at 3:38 am

      What a lovely blog. I’ll surely be back again. Please preserve writing!
      Reply

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    I am Narmadha, author of namscorner. I work as software developer and cooking is my passion.

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