Sala Meen Fry/Sardines fry

I usually love fish especially small fish like sala meen and nethili fish. These tiny fish called sala meen are very good for our skin and hair growth. Also they are good source of omega 3 fatty acids and calcium and folate.

I saw this recipe in a Zee tamil channel program called Anjaraipetti. In the show they used nethili meen. I use the recipe for both sala meen and nethili meen and both come out very tasty. In the original recipe they cooked according to Kerala style using coconut oil, but I use normal refined oil as I dont use coconut oil much for cooking. So, if you want a typical Kerala flavour you can use coconut oil. This recipe is very flavourful as such with a wonderful curry leaves aroma.

Ingredients:

•  Sala meen/Sardines - around 25 to 30
• Garlic - 7 to 8 pearls
• Ginger - 1 small piece
• Peppercorns - 3/4 tsp
• Fennel seeds - 1/2tsp
• Chilli powder - 2 and 1/2 tsp (I used homemade)
• Turmeric powder - 2 pinches
• Salt - as needed
• Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp
• Lime juice - from half a lemon
• Oil - 1/2 tsp
• Oil - to shallow fry
• Curry leaves - a bunch

Method:

1. Grind together garlic,ginger,peppercorns,fennel seeds, chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder,salt, lime juice,1/2tsp oil along with little water if needed to a thick paste. Dont grind it too watery.

2. Clean the fish well and marinate it with the ground masala and set aside for 30 mins. 

3. Once the marination is done, heat a pan with oil for shallow frying. Spread the curry leaves such that it forms a horizontal bed and place the fish over the curry leaves as shown below.

4. There evolves a lovely curry leaves aroma from the pan. Place the flame in medium low and once the bottom turns a brown color gently flip to the other side using a spoon. It may take 2 to 21/2 mins. Cook on the other side too. Repeat the process for all fish. You can have the crispy curry leaves as such and it tastes so good. I love to eat them as such. So dont miss it if you are a curry leaves lover.