Meen Polluchathu(മീൻ പൊള്ളിച്ചത്) is a true Kuttanadan fish-special. The preparation uses cleaned whole fish -typically Karimeen (കരിമീൻ)- covered with a spicy masala, wrapped in banana leaves and shallow fried. I have this recipe here to suite the preparation to the modern kitchen using oven instead of earthen pot and aluminum foil instead of banana leaf, as a variant from the tradition with a little trade-off on its taste and aroma. The fish normally used is Karimeen, which is common in back-waters of Kerala, but can use pomfrets (ആവോലി ) or Tilapia as alternatives.

Ingredients

1. Fish  (Tilapia/Pomfrets/Karimeen)                 : 3

For marination :

1. Chilli powder    : 2 Tbl sp.
2. Pepper powder : 2 Tbl sp.
3. Ginger garlic paste       : 2 T sp.
4. Turmeric powder          : ¼ T sp.
5. Oil for frying
6. Salt to taste.

For masala:

1. Chopped onion            :  2
2. Chopped tomato          : ½
3. Chopped chilli  : 3
4. Ginger garlic paste       : 2 T sp.
5. Curry leaves      : 2 sprig
6. Garam masala  : ½ T sp.
7. Kudampuli        :  2 piece
8. Chilli powder    : 2 T sp.
9. Pepper powder             : 1 Tbl sp.
10. Turmeric powder          : A pinch
11. Coconut milk    : ¾ Cup
12. Oil (if needed)   : 2 Tbl sp.

Method

• Clean the fish and put deep gashes on it. It will help to penetrate the masala inside.
• Make a paste of the marinating ingredients with water.
• Marinate the fish and rest it for 1 hour.
• In a pan/ kadai add enough oil and shallow fry the fish to both sides.
• Take the fish and keep it in a plate.

• In the same kadai/ pan add the onion along with Ginger garlic paste, green chill and oil (If the pan has any extra oil from fish frying use that, otherwise add 2 Table spoon of oil)
• Add salt and sauté it until the onion become translucent .
• Then add the tomato and the kodampuli  ,fry it another 2 minutes.
• Add the chilli, turmeric and pepper powder and fry it until the raw smell goes
• Pour the coconut milk along with the curry leaves, let it to boil well
• Add the garam masala and switch off the stove.
• In an aluminum foil sheet add enough masala and place the fish on top of that and add another layer of  masala on top of the fish .
• Fold it like a parcel, and keep it in a baking dish.

• Preheat oven for 400 F and bake the fish for ~ 25 min.
• Take it out of the oven , remove the aluminum foil.

• May garnish with sliced onion, tomato and lemon for serving