Karimeen Pollichathu

Karimeen (Pearl spot fish) Pollichathu is a typical and unique Kuttanadan (Allepey) fish preparation. It is marinated with a rich blend of hot spices and then baked in a banana leaf. If you take it once, you will always carve for it again. Here is the recipe for making Karimeen pollichathu at your home.

Ingredients

Pearlspot fish / Karimeen (medium sized) : 2nos

Chopped Onions : ¼ kg

Chopped Ginger : a small piece

Chopped Garlic : a pod

Chopped Green chillies : 4

Turmeric powder : ¼ tsp

Pepper powder : ½ tsp

Tomatoes (finely chopped) : 4

Chill1 powder : 1 ½ tbsp

Cumin seeds : ¼ tsp

Cinnamon : 2 small pieces

Vinegar : 2 tbsp

Coconut oil : 4 tbsp

Salt – to taste

Preparation of Kuttanadan Karimeen Pollichathu

1. Clean the karimeen fishes very well and drain them well till dry.
2. Make obliques incisions over it.
3. Slice the onions, ginger , garlic and green chillies into small pieces.
4. Make a fine paste of Chilly powder, turmeric powder, pepper powder, and cumin seed with little vinegar.
5. In a heavy bottom pan (uruli) pour some coconut oil and heat it.
6. Fry the cinnamon pieces in the pan.
7. Add the #3 to the pan and saute it well.
8. When the onions become cooked thoroughly, add the ground paste (#4) and fry it well in a low flame.
9. Add the tomatoes and saute it till the raw smell goes,  and saute well again.
10. Add 2 cups of boiling water when the mixture is well sauteed.
11. Add the salt and the remaining vinegar and mix well.
12. Add our fish pieces into the gravy and saute it till the gravy thickens and the fish is cooked well.
13. Wrap each piece of fish, along with the  masala gravy in a banana leaf. Tie it securely with banana fibers and roast it on a hot tava.
14. Serve it hot with your main dishes like Appam, Idiyappam, Rice etc..

Tips

• Use fresh Karimeen and the taste will be awesome.