Recipe: Yummy Karimeen Pollichathu

Recipe: Yummy Karimeen Pollichathu Delicious, fresh and tasty.

Karimeen Pollichathu. Karimeen Pollichathu is a delicious fish fry recipe which belongs to the South Indian cuisine. If you love fish then, this recipe is a must-try for you! This South Indian fish recipe will surely take your food experience up by a notch with its delectable flavours!

Cleaned Pearl spot fish or Karimeen is marinated with a blend of rich spicy masala and baked in a banana leaf.

A favorite delicacy in Kerala cuisine, Kerala Karimeen.

Karimeen pollichathu is a traditional Indian fish dish originating from Kerala.

You can have Karimeen Pollichathu using 19 ingredients and 10 steps. Here is how you achieve that.

Ingredients of Karimeen Pollichathu

1. You need of Karimeen / Pearl Spot.

2. Prepare of Shallots.

3. You need of Green chillies.

4. You need of Tomato.

5. It’s of Ginger.

6. You need of Garlic.

7. It’s of Curry leaves.

8. You need of Turmeric powder.

9. It’s of Red chilli powder.

10. You need of Coriander powder.

11. You need of Pepper powder.

12. You need of Salt.

13. It’s of Coconut oil.

14. It’s of Lemon juice.

15. Prepare of For Marination : Turmeric powder.

16. It’s of Red chilli powder.

17. It’s of Pepper powder.

18. Prepare of Lemon juice.

19. You need of Salt.

It's made by wrapping marinated pearl fish (karimeen) in banana leaves, then grilling it until done.

The marinade consists of turmeric, chili powder, pepper, lime juice, coconut oil, and salt.

Karimeen pollichathu (pearl spot) is one of the "star" foods of Kerala, marinated pearl fish is wrapped in banana leaf and grilled resulting in one of the delicious fish delicacy of Kerala.

For meen pollichathu banana leaves or vazhayila is important, please do not use aluminium foil, as the taste and flavor will be compromised.

Karimeen Pollichathu instructions

1. In a bowl add all the marination ingredients and make a smooth paste. Take the fish and apply the paste all over the fish. Keep aside marinated for few minutes..

2. Chop the shallots, green chillies, ginger, garlic finely. I used a hand chopper to finely chop them. Remove and keep aside. Finely chop the tomatoes too separately..

3. In a pan heat 1 tbsp coconut oil. Layer the fishes and pan sear both sides of the fish for 3-5 mins..

4. Take the banana leaf and show in the flame for few seconds and let it wilt. But be careful not to show for long else it will burn..

5. In a pan heat 2 tbsps coconut oil. Add the chopped shallots, green chillies, ginger, garlic, curry leaves and saute for 2 – 3 mins. Add chopped tomatoes and saute till it turns mushy..

6. Add the turmeric powder, red chilli powder, pepper powder, coriander powder and saute for 2 mins. Tune off the heat. Add lemon juice and give a quick stir..

7. Now take a banana leaf and spoon some masala and spread it. Layer the fish and spoon again some masala and cover the fish with the masala. Wrap the fish with the banana leaf and tie it with the a string. Make ready all the fish in same process..

8. In a pan heat remaining coconut oil and lay the wrapped fish in single layer..

9. Cover the pan and cook for 5 mins each on both sides over low-medium heat..

10. Remove, unwrap, squeeze more lemon juice and serve with onion rings, tomato slices and green chillies..

Karimeen Pollichathu is one such traditional delicacy of Kerala that is recommended to majority of the tourists visiting God's own country.

Though we usually prepare Karimeen this way, one can use pomfret or any firm fleshed fish.

I have always loved this dish, but never could prepare at home as Pearl spot wasn't easily available..

This special and spicy fried fish item can be had ideally as an evening snack.

It can also be served as a side dish along with meals.