Kerala style fried fish in banana leaf / Meen polichathu / கேரளா வாழை இலை மீன் வறுவல் / மீன் வறுவல்

INGREDIENTS
To Marinate & fry:-
• Fish (traditionally Pearl Spot fish (Curry meen) is used, but here I’ve used Paarai meen) – 500 gram
• Ginger-garlic paste – 2 tsp
• Coriander powder – 1½ tsp
• Red chili powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
• Lemon juice – 2 tbsp
• Salt – to taste
• Coconut oil – to fry

For Masala Sauce:-
• Shallots – ¼ cup
• Onion – 1, chopped
• Tomato – 2 chopped
• Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
• Green chili – 2, chopped
• Curry leaves – 2 sprig
• Red chili powder – 1 tsp
• Coriander powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
• Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
• water – 2 tbsp
• Coriander leaves (Cilantro) – 2 tbsp, roughly chopped
• Salt – to taste
• Coconut oil – 5 tbsp

To Wrap & Serve:-
• Banana leaf – 2 broad enough to wrap
• Banana string (or) Twine – to tie
• Coconut oil – to grease + 2 tbsp
• Curry leaves – 1 sprig
• Tomato slice – 2 nos

Method

1. In a bowl add Coriander powder, Red Chili powder, Turmeric powder, coconut oil, lemon juice, salt and water.

2. Mix the dry ingredients together.

3. Mix it again to make the masala paste and keep it aside.

4. Put the masala paste on top of the fish.

5. Spread the masala by rubbing it all over the fish.

6. Let it marinate for 30 minutes.

7. Heat oil in a wide pan and fry the fish over medium flame.

8. Once it is cooked on one side, turn it over to fry it on the other side. Once it is fully fried, keep it aside.

9. Heat oil in another pan, add shallots, onion, curry leaves, green chilies, ginger garlic paste and saute till it becomes translucent.

10. Then add tomato cook till it turns mushy by stirring occasionally.

11. Add Red Chili powder, Coriander powder, Pepper powder, Turmeric powder, garam masala powder and salt and mix it well. Add water and mix well.

12. Allow it to cook for a five minutes.

13. Add Coriander leaves, lemon juice and mix it well.

14. Again, allow it to cook for a couple of minutes.

15. Take a banana leaf.

16. Run the banana leaf on fire for 2-3 seconds. The leaf would have become soft. Set aside.

17. Take a big piece of wilted banana leaf and add in two tablespoon of the prepared masala in the center. Add a piece of the fried fish and cover the fish with two tablespoon of masala.

18. Tie it well using a banana string or twine.

19. Heat some oil in a pan, and place the wrapped fish in the pan.

20. Close it with a lid and cook it over low flame for 3 minutes on one side. Then turn it over and cook it again for 3 minutes to get the banana flavor infused into the fish. Then transfer it to a plate and unwrap the fish.

21. Serve it right away with tomato, onion and lime wedges and steamed rice.

22. You now have an incredibly flavorful Kerala Meen Pollichathu / Fried Fish in Banana Leaf Wrap meal on the table.