Fish Pollichethe(baked in plantain leaf)

Ingredients
1. 1 kg pomfret, Pearlspot(karimeen)

For the marinade
1.  pepper powder -1tsp
2.  turmeric powder-1tsp

3.ginger-garlic paste-1 tbsp
4. Salt to taste

For the masala paste and gravy

1. Shallots(kunjulli)-sliced 1 cup and onion sliced -1
2 Garlic cloves-10
3. green chillies, slit -3
4.Ginger-1 inch(chopped)
5.  mustard seeds -1tsp
6. 1 cup thick coconut milk
7.Curry leaves
8.Fish masala-2 tbsp which I used eastern masala

Method of preperation
1. Clean fish . If using whole fish, make gashes on both sides.
2. Rub the fish well with pepper powder, turmeric powder and ginger garlic paste and salt. Marinate for 1 hour.
3. Mix the fishmasala with ttle water to make masala paste.
4. In a pan, heat 2 tp oil and saute  onions,shallots, garlic, ginger,green chillies and curry leaves. Remove from the pan and keep aside.
5. Fry the fish lightly in the same oil and keep aside.
6. Add 1 tbsp of oil(I prefer coconut oil). Splutter mustard seeds. Add the masala paste and saute until the masal seperates from oil
7. Add fish and coconut milk.

8. Add sauted onions, garlic,ginger, green chillies and curry leaves. Simmer on low heat until fish is coated with gravy.
9. Wrap each fish in a piece of plantain leaf . Tie securely and bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes. Serve hot.