Mathi pollichathu/Sardines in banana leaf wrap

A yummy fish recipe..!Sardines are one of the cheapest fish available in Kerala but sardines are rich in vit.D and protein.It is a good source of omega 3 fatty acid.

    

"meen pollichathu"is a traditional Kerala dish and it will tastes heavenly.One of my friends asked me for the recipe and then I decided to make it.Did you check my nadan mathi curry/kerala sardines curry

Ingredients:

• Sardines /mathi : 8 (1/2 kg)
• Pepper powder : 1/2 tspn
• Chilly powder : 1 tspn
• Turmeric powder : 1/4 tspn
• Banana leaf : 3 to 4(pieces )
• Salt

For masala:

• Shallots /kunjulli (sliced ) : 3/4 cup
• Tomato (chopped) : 1
• Ginger chopped : 1 tablspn
• Garlic chopped : 5  cloves
• Kashmiri chilly powder : 1.5 tspn
• Thick coconut milk : 1/2 cup
• Curry leaves : 4 springs
• Coconut oil

Method:

• Clean the fish and make narrow slits on both sides .
• Marinate it with pepper powder,chilly powder,salt and turmeric powder
• Keep it aside for 15 minutes.
• Now heat a pan with oil.Add curry leaves and then place the sardines on it.

• Fry both the sides for few minutes.
• Drain and keep it aside.
• To the same pan add sliced shallots.Saute it well until it turn golden brown
• Add chopped ginger and garlic 
• Then add chopped tomato and saute it again
• Now add chilly powder and mix it well
• Saute it well until it turns mushy.
• Now add coconut milk and cook it in low flame
• Once the gravy turns thick switch off the stove
• Now take  the plantain leaves and wash it well
• Hold the leaves over the flame for few seconds so that we can wrap the fishes easly

• Place 2 tblspn of masala on the banana leaf and keep the fried sardines over it. (two or three sardines)
• Cover the fish with more masala

• Now wrap the bananan leaf just like parcel.You can tie the parcel with "vazhanaru"(fibre obtaining from stem of banana plant).It was not available for me.

• Heat a non stick thawa and place the parcels on it
• Cook both the sides in low flame for 15 to 20 minutes.

• Yummy mathi pollichathu is ready to serve!

Note:

• My mom in law used to add coriander powder too.If you like add 1/2 tspn of coriander powder too.
• Instead of non stick thawa use clay pott(manchatti).It will give traditional taste.Coveer the claypott with its lid and cook it in low flame.
• You can add a small piece of fish tamarind(kudam puli) while preparing gravy.It will give a different taste.
• I will recommend you to use coconut oil