Fish Peera Pattichathu

This is a semi dry dish made with fish, coconut and cocum. Usually whole small fishes like kozhuva and small sardines are used to make this preparation. This is a delicious dish if made with the right amount of ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Fish - 1kg
• Ginger - 1medium piece
• Turmeric powder - ¹/₂tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Garlic flakes -2
• Green Chilli- 1dsp
• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Tamarind -Cocum (Kodampuli) - 4-5 pieces
• Coconut Oil -2dsp
• Onion - cup
• Curry leaves

Method of Preparation:

Crush the grated coconut, ginger, turmeric, garlic, salt and Green chillies. Clean the fish well and mix it with the crushed ingredients in mud pot.  Add tamarind and a little water and cook until done with most of the water evaporated. Season curry leaves and chopped onions in oil. Then add this mixture to the fish preparation and mix well.  

Variation:

Small prawns can also be used to make this dish with the same ingredients.  Here prawns are first cooked with 1-2 small pieces of cocum, salt and water. After seasoning, (mustard seeds are also seasoned), add the crushed ingredients to it  and sauté for some time. Then add the cooked prawns kept aside to this mixture and keep on fire for some time. Serve hot.