Meen Peera (Kerala Style Fish Recipe With Shredded Coconut)

Step 1: To prepare Meen Peera (Kerala Style Fish Recipe with shredded coconut), wash and clean the sardines and marinate it with 1 small piece of kudampuli and salt

Step 2: Keep aside for 10 minutes

Step 3: Throw away the kudampuli and wash the fish under running water till cleaned well

Step 4: Drain all the water

Step 5: Cut each fish into 3 pieces for better incorporation of flavor

Step 6: Add the cleaned sardines into a meen chatti (earthenware) or a pan

Step 7: Keep aside

Step 8: Crush or coarsely grind (if you are using a mixer grinder for this process, just pulse it 1 or 2 times till you get a coarsely crushed mixture) together coconut, ginger, garlic, green chilies, shallots, 2 to 3 curry leaves and crushed dry red chili

Step 9: Add the coconut mix and 2 big pieces of kudampuli into the sardines and mix well

Step 10: (I used my hands, but you could always use a wooden spoon to do this)Add salt, coconut oil, fenugreek powder, turmeric powder and the rest of the curry leaves and mix well

Step 11: Now add a little water, just enough to cover the fish

Step 12: Bring the mixture together with a wooden spoon and press down firmly

Step 13: Cover with a lid and cook on a high flame

Step 14: When the mixture is boiling, lower the flame and cook for about 5-6 minutes

Step 15: Now continue to cook the fish with the lid slightly open

Step 16: Sauté occasionally and cook till water has reduced

Step 17: Open the lid completely and continue to cook the fish a medium high flame until most of the liquid has dried up

Step 18: (Take care not to burn the dish)

Step 19: Serve Meen Peera (Kerala Style Fish Recipe with shredded coconut) with steamed rice and Whole wheat lachha paratha for a wholesome lunch