Meen pollichathu

மீன் பொழிச்சது – Meen pollichathu

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 fish to make this dish. You may use any variety of fish like seer fish, Pomfret fish, Mackeral. Mostly this recipe is cooked with coconut oil. My son is addicted to this recipe.

Ingredients for Meen pollichathu

Marination

Fish – 1 full fish
Chilli powder – 1.5 tbs
Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder – 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice – 1/2 tbs
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Oil for frying
Salt as needed

Gravy

Small onion – 1 cup (chopped)
Tomato – 1 (chopped)
Ginger garlic paste – 1/2 tbs
Coconut oil – 3 tbs
Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves – 1 spring
Cumin powder – 1 tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tbs
Masala powder – 1 tbs
Pepper powder – 1 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Salt as needed

Directions

Frying Fish

Clean the fish and cut into big pieces.
Take a bowl and add all the marination ingredients except fish.
Mix everything well and make spice paste (refer picture).
Apply spice paste all over the fish.
Place the fish in partial shade or marinate for at least 2 hours.
Heat oil in a pan and place the marinated fish.
Keep the flame medium low and fry for 3-5 minutes.
Flip the fish pieces and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
Take out the fried fish and keep in a plate.

Prepare Gravy

Heat coconut oil in a pan.
Add cumin seeds, after the seeds cracked add curry leaves.
After the curry leaves popped, add chopped onion and ginger garlic paste.
Sauté them well and add chopped tomato and salt.
Sauté them until mushy and add all the spices.
Mix everything well and add 1/2 cup of water.
Close the pan and cook the gravy in medium flame for 5 minutes.

Pollichathu

Slice a banana leaf and rinse in water.
Dry the leaf with paper towel/ cloth.
Gently show the leaf over the flame (to prevent from ripping).
Place half of the gravy over the leaf.
Spread the gravy and place the fried fish pieces.
Scoop all the remaining gravy over the fish.
Cover the fish completely with gravy.
Close the banana leaf and tie with thread as shown in picture.
Heat a pan with little bit oil and place the banana leaf parcel.
Cook the fish in medium low flame for 2-3 minutes.
Flip the parcel and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Take out the parcel and open.
Meen pollichathu ready.
Serve the meen pollichathu as a side with rice.

Notes

You may use full fish without slicing.
Slicing allows spices all over the fish, that’s why I sliced here.
Choose small size fish for best results.
If you get vaalai naar, use that to tie the banana leaf.