Meen Pollichathu (Fried Fish wrapped in banana leaf with masalas )

I think it was an 1 1/2 years ago, Gordon Ramsay a celebrity chef in this country went to India to explore Indian cuisine for his show.He travelled all across India and when he went to Kerala ,he was tought how to make our delicay Karimeen Polichathu by some local chef .At the end of his culninary journey in India he had to cook for some famous Foodies in India  and for that he tried to recreate the recipes which impressed him a lot , Karimeen Polichathu was one among them !! Till that day I never tasted or tried this at home and that inspired me a lot and so I tried  thisfor the first time  an year ago,but since Pearl spot /Karimeen was not availabel here I had to satisfy with Seabream a local fish available here and it was delcious.

 Last weekend during our shopping at Indian grocery shop, I found some banana leaf and I picked it for the same purpose.I went ahead and  bought the same fish, a fresh seabream from a fish monger and made this today and it was super delicious . I cant imagine if the Sea bream can taste this good how good it will be if it was Karimeen !

 

Ingredients

Pearl spot /Seabream or any firm fish of your choice - 1

Banana leaf -1

Cooking twine

Oil for frying

To marinate

Redchilly powder - 1 1/2 tbs

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbs

Fennel powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt

For masala

Shallots (sliced ) - 1 cup

Tomato -2 small

Redchilly powder - 1 1/2 tsp

Tumeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Corainder powder - 1tsp

Salt

 Ginger (minced ) - 1 tbs

Garlic minced - 1 1/2 tsp

Green chillies - 2 nos

Curry leaves - 2 strings

 

Method

 

1.Clean the fish and cut some gashes on both sides and marinate with ingredients under " to marinate " for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

2.In a saucepan add some oil and saute sliced shallots until brown.

3.Add green chillies,ginger,garlic,curry leaves and saute for 1-2 minutes.

4.Add all the spice powders , chopped tomatoes and salt.Cook until tomatoes are mashed and masala is a paste.

5.Meanwhile shallow fry the fish for 5 minutes on each sides.

6.Wilt the banana leaf for few seconds on both sides on the flame(to avoid leaf tearing)

7.Spread the cooked masala paste like a bed on banana leaf and place the fish on top,cover the top and sides of  the fish with masala and wrap the fish in banana leaf and tie the parcel with  a cooking twine.

8.Cook the fish parcel  in a frying fan for 10 -15 minutes !