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
- Fish (Tilapia/Pomfrets/Karimeen) : 3
For marination :
- Chilli powder : 2 Tbl sp.
- Pepper powder : 2 Tbl sp.
- Ginger garlic paste : 2 T sp.
- Turmeric powder : ¼ T sp.
- Oil for frying
- Salt to taste.
For masala:
- Chopped onion : 2
- Chopped tomato : ½
- Chopped chilli : 3
- Ginger garlic paste : 2 T sp.
- Curry leaves : 2 sprig
- Garam masala : ½ T sp.
- Kudampuli : 2 piece
- Chilli powder : 2 T sp.
- Pepper powder : 1 Tbl sp.
- Turmeric powder : A pinch
- Coconut milk : ¾ Cup
- 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