Today i am going to share with you a very traditional Kerala Fish Recipe. I am so excited to share this recipe and i should say this is a absolute delicious fish recipe everyone should try. This recipe similar to Fish Pollichathu but it doesnot need oil while cooking. Just we need to cook in the heat. Traditionally the parcels are cooked inside the charcoal heat. No need to cook the masala like Fish Pollichathu. Just grind apply and roast in heat. So healthy as it requires less oil unlike fish fry.

       Regarding the taste i felt almost like a kebab. Perfect sourness from the tamarind leaves and the masala is just delicious to taste. When i think about the dish, my mouth starts to water. Generally small fish like Anchovies, Sardines are cooked in this way.


Meen Puliyela Chuttathu

INGREDIENTS:

Fish- 350 grams (2 big pieces of King fish) You can make it with any firm fleshed fish
Tamarind tender leaves/ Imli ki patha- 1 1/2 cup
Coconut, grated- 1/2 cup
Jeera/ cumin seeds- 1/4 teaspoon
Pearl onion/ small onion- 2 small
Ginger- 1 inch
Green Chillies or Kanthari Mulagu- 8
Turmeric powder- 1/4 teaspoon
Coconut oil (or) cooking oil- 1 teaspoon
Banana Leaf- 2 pieces

Meen Puliela Chuttathu

PROCEDURE:


  • Wash the tamarind leaves well in water to remove dirts and clay from leaves.
  • In a blender add tamarind leaves, coconut, jeera, pearl onion, ginger, green chillies, turmeric powder, coconut oil and salt.
  • Grind as a paste without adding any water. If you feel difficulty in rotating the blade add a dash of water and grind as a paste.
  • Take banana leaf and show on the flame to slightly wilt the leaf (to avoid tearing the leaf while folding). If the leaf is flexible you can skip this step.
  • Keep the fish on top of banana leaf and marinate the fish.
  • Apply the tamarind marinade over both the sides of the fish and allow to soak in the masala for about 20-30 minutes. Fold the leaf to hold the masala inside. You can cover all four sides and make as a parcel or atleast fold two sides.
  • Take a flat pan and heat the pan. Keep a banana leaf or aluminium foil more on the pan to avoid direct contact of the parcel and to prevent burning of the banana leaf parcel.
  • Cook both sides without adding any oil. If needed you can add but i have not added any oil and the fish was perfectly cooked. It takes about 15 minutes to cook in above sim flame. Cook 10 minutes in a open pan and last 5 minutes cook the pan covered(optional). You can cook it totally in open pan too. 
  • Drizzle some coconut oil over the fish and serve hot.

Fish Roast in Tamarind Leaf Paste



Fish Parcels in Tamarind Leaf Paste