Healthy Karimeen Pollichathu

Karimeen is called pearl spot in English. It’s most found in lakes of Kerala and is most recently elected as state food of Kerala. Of all Karimeen dishes, karimeen pollichathu – steamed using banana leaf is most popular and considered as a typical Kerala traditional dish.

Ingredients for Karimeen pollichathu:

1. Normal pearl spot – 1
2. Coconut oil – 50 milli
3. Mustard seeds – a pinch
4. Ginger chopped – 1 table spoon
5. Garlic chopped – 1 table spoon
6. Chillies – 2
7. Shallots crushed – 150 gm
8. Tomato chopped – 1
9. Salt – as needed
10. Chilli powder – 1 tspn
11. Coriander powder – 1 tspn
12. Turmeric powder – a pinch
13. Fennel seeds – 1/2 table spoon
14. Pepper powder – 1/2 table spoon
15. Kudam puli – 2

Masala for fish fry

1. Chilli powder – 1 tsp
2. Turmeric powder – 1/2 table spoon
3. Pepper powder – 1/2 table spoon
4. Lemon juice – of one lemon
5. Coconut oil – 2 table spoons

Method of preparation

1. Marinate the fish using the above masala and keep it for half an hour.
2. Grill the fish and keep it aside.
3. Heat a pan and saute items 3-9.
4. Add ingredients 10-15 and prepare masala. 
5. Add kudampuli and curry leaves and put the flame off. Water should be completely absorbed.
6. Take a banana leaf and spread a layer of masala on it.
7. Place the fish and again apply the remaining masala and wrap it well.
8. Bake it for 2-3 minutes in oven or using a frying pan.