Mathi Thappu Vechathu-Chaala Pollichathu-Sardine in Banana Leaf with Video and Step By Step method.
Hi everyone how are you all? Today, I’m sharing a Country Style/Nadan Fish Recipe Mathi Thappu Vechathu -Chaala Pollichathu-Sardine in Banana leaf. This is yet another old fashioned traditional recipe that get you excited about sitting down to dinner. You just have to try it.
This recipe is shared by a one of my friend on the WhatsApp group. It’s foodhunter_sabu’s TikTok recipe video. I found it very tempting and easy nadan/country style recipe to try.
I tried and followed exactly as in the video, and it came out very delicious, so I thought I should share it with you all.
What’s special and unique about this recipe? Sardine/Mathi-Chaala is cooked in Banana leaf and Dum is done with Kanal-Charcoal made with chakiri (outer skin of coconut burned and in red color)
I have not done the dum process. If you have access to do that, pls do try that way. I have explained how to do that step. If haven’t tried this one yet, I recommend you to give it a try.
Recipe Video Mathi Thappu Vechathu-Chaala Pollichathu-Sardine in Banana Leaf
I’m sure it will be a wonderful addition to your “to do” list. It’s pair well with Rice or Kappa/Tapioca
Btw, Did you get a chance to try my latest post 3 Ingredient Easy Pal Payasam made in a Pressure cooker? If not pls, do try it’s a really easy and delicious recipe. Lastly, before wrapping up this post, I have listed some of the other related recipes you would like to check. Please click on the link below.
- Meen Pollichathu
- Nadan Mathi Curry- Kerala Style Sardines Curry
- Mathi-Chaala Varuthathu-Sardines Fry
- Mathi Achar-Sardine Pickle
- Kappa Puttu/Steamed Tapioca
- Chicken Stuffed Idli
- Ela Ada/Steamed Parcel in Banana Leaf
Recipe card for Mathi Thappu Vechathu-Chaala Pollichathu-Sardine in Banana Leaf
Mathi Thappu Vechathu-Chaala Pollichathu-Sardine in Banana Leaf
Equipment
- Earthen Pot
Ingredients
- 1/2 /1.2 kg/lb Sardines / Mathi-Chaala clean & make 3-4 gashes on each side of the fish
- 8-10 Shallots /Small Red Onion
- 5-6 Garlic cloves
- 1" piece Ginger
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 2 tsp Red chilly powder: or to your spice level
- 1 tsp Coriander powder
- 1 tsp Whole Black Pepper or to your spice level
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds:
- 3 tbsp Thick Tamarind Paste or Soak gooseberry size tamarind in warm water and extract the juice
- 2-4 Green Chilie or to your spice level
- 2 sprig Curry leaves
- 4 tbsp Coconut oil
- Salt to taste
- 2 big Banana Leaf
Instructions
- Clean and make 3-4 gashes on each side of the fish; pat-dry the cleaned fish using a kitchen tissue.
- In a blender, add black pepper fennels seeds, garlic cloves, ginger piece, small onions, few curry leaves, turmeric, chili, coriander powder, and tamarind paste and blend it a smooth paste.
- Add salt to taste and apply the masala paste on the fish and do make sure to rub the paste inside the fish's stomach and gashes.
- Add the green chilies and curry leaves and combine well. Keep the marinated fish pieces for 30 mins to 1 hour in the refrigerator. (Note: The marination time purely depends on the time availability)
- Heat the earthen pot on medium flame with Banana leaves and spread Banana leaves on the top and coat the banana leaves with 2tbsp of coconut oil.
- Line the masala coated fish on the top of banana leaves.
- Sprinkle curry leaves and 2 tbsp of coconut oil.
- Cover with another piece of banana leaves and cook on medium heat until well cooked.
- Traditionally, once sardines-mathi-chala is cooked on medium-high heat for 10-20 mins, Dum process is done with Kanal made with chakiri (outer skin of coconut burned and in red color like charcoal) is lined on the top and cooked on low flame for 10-15 mins.
- Those who don’t have access to Kanal-charcoal.After 10 mins, when one side is done, open the lid and just flip the fish, cover and cook for another 10 mins. Make sure not to break the fish, so gently flip the fish.
- Traditional recipe doesn't call for flipping the fish. It's gets cooked perfectly on Dum with charcoal. Here it takes little time to cook because we have not used water.
- After flipping the fish, cover it with banana leaf, cover and cook it for another 10 mins. So totally we need 30 mins of cooking time.
- Tasty Mathi-Chala Thappu Vechathu-Sardine Dry Curry is ready. Serve hot with Rice or Steamed Tapioca/Kappa Puzhukku
Notes
- Traditionally, once sardine-mathi-chala is cooked on medium-high heat for 10-20 mins, Dum process is done with Kanal made with chakiri (outer skin of coconut burned and in red color like charcoal) is lined on the top and cooked on low flame for 10-15 mins.
- Using coconut oil enhance the authentic taste and flavor.
Nutrition
Hope you all will enjoy making this Mathi Thappu Vechathu-Chaala Pollichathu-Sardine in Banana Leaf! Don’t forget to let me know your opinion if you try.
Happy Cooking and Happy Eating!
Sangeetha
Thank you Ria. I’m glad it turned well for you. Thanks for sharing you feedback here.Hope you get to try more recipes and like them too.
Super recipe. I tried and it came out yummy. Thank you.
Yummy. I tried and it came out super delicious. Thank you for posting it.