Outdoor cooking is very interesting and enjoyable to cook. Today I cook Kerala Meen Pollichathu / Fried Fish wrapped in Banana Leaf in my home backyard using brick stones and firewood.

Kerala style fish pollichathu - Mind blowing Kerala fish fry exploding the flavor from the aromatic masalas and wrapped in banana leaves and roasted to perfection!But if you find difficult to get banana leaf you can use aluminum foil too.

To make this Kerala Meen Pollichathu / Fried Fish in Banana Leaf Wrap, place the fish in a wilted Banana leaf, bedded on masala, and then wrap the entire thing in a banana leaf and tie it with banana leaf string. The distinct smells of the fish and masala will have your mouth watering 🙂

Step 1: Ingredients

Ingredients:

Fish Steaks – 2 (Use any fish)

For Marination:

Ginger, garlic paste - 1 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Kasurimethi - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
Coconut Oil - 1 tblspn

For Masala:

Coconut oil - 2 tblspn
Onion - 1 large chopped finely
Green Chilli - 1
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Tomatoes - 1small chopped finely
Ginger,garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Chilli Powder - 1/2 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Thick Coconut Milk - 1/2 cup

Step 2: Marination

Take fish steaks in a plate and add in all the marination ingredients and mix well. Let it marinate for 10 mins.

Step 3: Shallow Fry the Marinated Fish

Now heat oil in a tawa or frying pan. Shallow Fry the fish steaks in hot oil for 3 mins on each side and remove it to a plate.

Step 4: Preparing the Masala

Now in the remaining oil. Add in finely chopped onions, green chilli and curry leaves.Fry this for 3 to 4 mins till it is light golden. Add in finely chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 mins till it turns mushy. Now add in all the spice powders and salt. Mix well. Pour coconut milk and mix well till it is reduced and thickened. Now the masala is done.

Step 5: To Wilt the Banana Leaf on Fire

Lets get the banana leaves ready for wrapping. The banana leaves need to be wilted. Using the raw leaf would likely tear when folded. To avoid this problem, it needs to be wilted on fire. Run the banana leaf on fire for 2-3 seconds. The leaf would have become soft. Set aside. Just mere seconds is good enough. Do not show the leaf on fire for a long time. It might burn.

Step 6: Wrapping Fish in Banana Leaf

Now take fried fish pieces, masala, banana leaf. Take a banana leaf and place a spoonful of masala on the banana leaf. Place the fried fish on top of the masala. Spoon some more masala over the fish. Fold and tied the leaf to make a parcel.

Step 7: Frying the Fish Parcels

Now heat a tawa add 2 tsp of oil on medium heat. Place the parcel over the tawa and cook for 12 mins on each side.

Now remove it from tawa and open the parcel and serve hot.

Step 8: Ready to Serve

This is a yummy fish recipe which is filled with a lovely banana leaf aroma.This is SO SO good. This has an absolute flavor, the masalas are deeply intense, the taste of this fish is undoubtedly the BEST ONE!

Step 9: Benefits

Banana leaf Benefits.

Banana leaves contain large amounts of polyphenols that are natural antioxidants. Food served on the banana leaves absorbs the polyphenols which are said to prevent many lifestyle diseases. They are also said to have anti-bacterial properties that can possibly kill the germs in food.

Nutritional Value

1. It is a low in fat and high protein food.
2. The fish is rich in fatty acids that lower blood pressure and prevent heart strokes.
3. The fish also helps in improving the mental functions and minimizes the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.