Ayala pollichathu (Roasted Mackerel)

Ingredients:
For marination:

1. Ayala (Mackerel)- 2
2. Kashmiri chilly powder- 1tsp
3. Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
4. Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp
   
5. Salt

For gravy:

1. Onion: 2 medium, thinly sliced
2. Tomato-1, chopped
3. Green chilly- 3-5, sliced lengthwise
4. Pepper powder-1 tsp
5. Coriander powder- 2tsp
6. Garam masala-1 tsp
7. Coconut milk-2 tsp
8. Salt

plantain leaf
Curry leaves
Coconut oil


Method:

1. Clean fish, make gashes and marinate with ingredients 2-4 for an hour.
2. Warm oil in a pan and add few curry leaf sprigs and fry fish over that. Cook both sides and keep aside
3. Heat oil in a pan, fry onions, curry leaves and green chillies. Saute until onions are slight brown. Add all masala powders and saute for a while. Stir in chopped tomatoes and cook covered. Finally add thin coconut milk and cook until the gravy is thick.
4. Place half of the gravy in a plantain leaf, then fried fish and the remaining gravy. Sprinkle 1 tsp of lemon juice and make a parcel using plantain leaf.
   
5. Spay some oil in a pan and roast both sides of the parcel until you see the leaf turned brown. Open up the parcel and serve hot with rice.