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
Meen Pollichathu Recipe | Kerala style Fish pollichathu
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 1/2 tsp
- Salt as required
- Garam masala 1/4 tsp
- Curry leaves handful
- Oil 2.5 tbsp
- Coriander leaves 3 tbsp finely chopped
Marination
- Red chilli powder 3/4 tsp
- Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
- Salt as required
- Ginger garlic paste 1/2 tsp
- Lemon juice 1/2 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
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.
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