Meen Pollichathu......Baked Fish in Banana leaf

Meen Pollichathu
Whole Fish / Fillet                               - 2  [ I used Trevally available locally here ]
Cut and clean the fish and make small slits on its surfaces.
Mix together ingredients 1-5 under marination and make a paste of it.
Marinate the fish pieces with this and keep aside for about 1/2 hr. You can keep it refrigerated during this time.
After 1/2 hr, shallow fry the fish pieces in a skillet with enough oil. Turn over and get both sides done. 
Remove from oil and drain the fish pieces on a paper towel and keep aside.
Before starting the gravy preparation , soak the cambodge in 1/4 cup of warm water and keep aside.
And preheat oven to 180°C.
Now to start with the gravy preparation, heat a wide mouth pan and add oil to it.
Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds and allow them to sputter.
Now add curry leaves, followed by ginger , garlic and chillie. Saute for a minute.
Add onion now along with salt and saute until they are soft and brownish.
Now add tomatoes and saute them until they are soft and mushy.
Add the soaked cambodge along with the water.
Saute until all the water gets absorbed.
Reduce the heat and add coconut milk. Saute until it is absorbed and the gravy thickens.
Line a piece of aluminuim foil on a baking tray and spread 1/4th of the gravy on it. 
Now place one fried fish on top and cover it with some more gravy.
Now slowly seal the foil on all sides.
Repeat steps 16 - 18 for the second fish too.
Bake them for about 20-25 mins.
Serve hot with Rice.....





Note : 

If you are using banana leaf, you don't have to go for baking. 
Instead wrap the fish in banana leaf and tie it with a string. 
Heat a skillet and then toast the wrapped fish on it , turning over to get both sides done.


Toasting method in banana leaf