BLACK POMFRET FRY IN BANANA LEAF WRAP/MEEN POLLICHATHU.

Recpie by: Josna Ajai

This is a flavorful and delicious fish recipe that the fish is fried and then cooked in banana leaf than wrap with masala.The flavor from the banana leaf adds more taste to this fish.Usually it is made with karimeen /pearl spot but today here I used black pomfret for this recipe.

Watch full recpie : YouTube

Ingredients :

1.Pomfret fish – 1 big sized ( Clean the fish thoroughly with vinegar,limejuice or salt.Make gashes on each side and again
clean it well.)

For the marination of the fish

1. Kashmiri chilli powder – 1 1/2 tsp
2. Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
3. Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
4. Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
5. Salt as needed – 1 – 1 1/2 tsp
6. Lemon Juice – 1/2 tbsp
7. Water as needed – 3 to 4 ttbs

Pre- preparation of fish

Mix everything well and make a paste

Marinate the fish well and keep it aside for 20 minutes.

Heat a pan and add 4 to 5 tbsp of coconut oil.when it beacame hot make the flame into low and add some curry leaves.

place the fish in the pan and shalow fry the fish for 5 minutes both sides and remove it in a plate.

Following are the ingredients to make the masala paste :

1.green chillies – 2 to 3 nos
2.Kashmiri chilli powder – 1 1/2 tsp
3.Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
4.Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
5.Curry leaves – 1/2 spring
6.Pepper corns – 1 tsp
7.Ginger – 1 small piece
8.garlic cloves – 4 nos
9.Coconut oil – 1 tsp
10.Water – 2 to 3 tbsp

• Grind everything well and make a paste

Other ingredients :

1.Coconut oil – 3 to 4 tbsp
2.shallots – 1 cup
3.Onion chopped – 1 cup ( small )
4.Tomato chopped -1 no
5.Salt as needed
6.Banana leaf – 2 nos
7.Ghee – 1tbsp

Preparation of masala

Heat the same frying pan and add the shallots and onoins and saute till it became light brown color.

add the ground paste and
mix it with the onion.

add the chopped tomato and saute it till it became soft.Add salt as needed and mix it then off the flame.

Wraping the Fish :

Now we can take 2 medium sized cleaned banana leaf and soften the leaves by putting over the flame for few seconds.we are doing
the procedure because the leaf won’t break while wraping.If the banana leaf is not available you can use aluminium foil too.

Place the banana leaf in a flat surface and place the half portion of masala over it then place the fish middle and again add the
remaining masala on the top.You can also add sliced tomato and green chilli over it.Next wrap the fish tightly and tide it with a thred.

Heat a frying pan and add 1 tbsp of ghee and place a banana leaf over it.Then place the fish in the banana leaf and cover it with
a lid and make the flame into low and cook it for 10 minutes.

Flip the fish and again cook for 10 minutes.once it’s done remove from pan. Serve with lemon a lemon slice.