Karimeen Pollichathu

This is a special dish with fish in some places in kerala..........this ia a real treat for sea food lovers.....this is made with fishes with thick flesh.Fish marinates with gravy and packed in banana leaves and prepared in mud pots or non stick tawas.........this can be made in easy way also by first steaming the fish then rest of the process.I made without frying the fish....so that the fish gets the full flavour and taste of the marinated masala.......my hubby and our friends really loved this one...........I didn't get perfect pictures for this as my kids and hubby were waiting on the dining table.........

Now to the recipe.....................

Ingredients:

1/2 kg Fish karimeen(pearl spot) or Pomfret

1 Big onion

1c Shallots sliced (loosely packed)

4 Big cloves garlic

1 Medium piece ginger

1 Big tomato

1tsp Coriander powder

2tsp Red chilly powder

1tsp Pepper powder

1/2 tsp Turmeric powder

1c Thick coconut milk

1tsp tamarind pulp or kokum pulp

For Tempering:

Mustard seeds

Fenugreek seeds

Oil

Salt

Curry leaves

Method:

1.Clean the fish and put cuts on the fish and keep aside.

2.In a pan add little oil splutter mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds.

3.Add sliced onions and sliced shallots and saute well.

4.When the onions start changing the color and finely chopped ginger and garlic.

5.Saute well and add the coriander powder,turmeric powder,red chilly powder and pepper powder and mix well.

6.Add the chopped tomatoes and mix well till the tomatoes are soft.

7.Add the tamarind pulp,salt and mix well.

8.Add the thick coconut milk and curry leaves and mix well.

9.Let it boil for some minutes in simmer till u get a thick gravy.

10.Now wash the banana leaves dry it and just soften it by putting it up on an open flame.(Ila Vattal).

11.Then as seen in the above picture Put some masala on the leaf and place the fish over the masala.

12.Cover the fish with masala and fill it inner portion also with some masala.You can add some more curry leaves now.

13.Now cover the fish with the banana leaf and tie with some thread to make a packet.

14.Now heat a mud chatti or in a tawa spread some coconut oil and place this packet carefully over the tawa and close with a lid.

15.Cook on a medium flame each sides for 10 mins.

16.Serve hot with plain rice,kubus or chapathis.