Recette de cuisineHomemade recipes · Hainaut
Favorites
Kerala banana leaf fish, a dish made with fish wrapped in banana leaves

Kerala banana leaf fish, a dish made with fish wrapped in banana leaves

Main dishes

Karimeen Pollichathu: Marinated and pan-fried fish, wrapped in a sauce made with shallots, tomatoes, and coconut milk, all within a banana leaf, and then …

Enlarge photo

Recipe from Kalesh, adapted by Recette de cuisine · · updated on

↓ Jump to recipe

A signature dish of Kerala, karimeen pollichathu is made with karimeen (a type of freshwater pearlfish). The fish is first pan-fried, then cooked in a banana leaf with a spicy coconut milk sauce, which gives it a distinctive flavor.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time30 min
  • Cook time30 min
  • Resting30 min
  • Total1 hr 30 min
  • DifficultyMedium
  • CostBudget
  • Cooking methodfrying pan
  • Estimated cost$3.53 $1.77 / serving Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 12, 2026.
  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan

Ingredients

2 people
  • $0.21
  • $0.02
  • $0.38
  • $1.65
  • $0.12
  • $0.13
  • $0.16
  • $0.05
  • $0.34
  • $0.47

Prices from US supermarkets for 7 of 10 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.

Directions

  1. Remove the bones from the fish, pat it dry on both sides, and rub it with salt and pepper. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Heat it lightly on both sides in coconut oil, without fully cooking it.
  3. In a separate frying pan, sauté the shallots in 1 tablespoon of oil; once they change color, add the green chili peppers and the ginger-garlic paste.
  4. Add the chili pepper, cilantro, and turmeric, then the tomato, and cook until browned.
  5. Season with salt, add 2 tablespoons of water, bring to a boil, then pour in the coconut milk and curry leaves; let it thicken and divide the sauce into four portions.
  6. Soften the banana leaves above the flame, place a quarter of the sauce, a piece of fish, then another quarter of the sauce, and fold them over, securing with string; repeat with the second. ≈ 3 min
  7. Heat the patties in a lightly oiled frying pan, covered, over low heat, turning them occasionally to ensure they cook evenly on both sides.

The bill

Kerala banana leaf fish, a dish made with fish wrapped in banana leaves

  • 1 teaspoon of ground pepper$0.21
  • salt$0.02
  • 3 tablespoons of coconut oil$0.38
  • 10 finely chopped shallots$1.65
  • 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste$0.12
  • 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri chili powder$0.13
  • 1 teaspoon of dried cilantro$0.16
  • 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric$0.05
  • 1 chopped tomato$0.34
  • 120 ml of thick coconut milk$0.47

Total$3.53

that's $1.77 per person

Estimated price; varies by store.

Equipment

Affiliate links

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 2 karimeen (or 2 small sea bream, about 300g each)
  • 1 teaspoon of ground pepper
  • salt
  • 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 10 finely chopped shallots
  • 3 green chili peppers, slightly wilted
  • 1 tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon of Kashmiri chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon of dried cilantro
  • 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 chopped tomato
  • 120 ml of thick coconut milk
  • One bunch of curry leaves
  • Two large banana leaves
  • kitchen string

The screen stays on while cooking mode is open.
🎬 Have a video of this recipe? Suggest a YouTube link

Did you film this recipe, or do you know a video that shows it? Axelle watches it before adding it to the page.

Nothing is published before approval.

✏️ A mistake, an idea for this recipe? Suggest a correction

Reviews (0)

Rate this recipe Be the first to rate it!

Your rating