Machcha Patropoda

1. Make sure the fish you use is fresh and properly scaled.
2. The best kind of fish to use would be a medium sized one.
3. Once you’ve de-scaled the fish, clean out its insides.
4. Thoroughly clean the fish and cut it into small pieces.
5. Clean these pieces separately using ice cold water.
6. To prepare the masala; add salt, green chilies, turmeric, curry leaves, coriander leaves and mix them well.
7. Once they’re properly mixed and gain a golden brown texture add onions and mustard oil.
8. Continue mixing until the onions have the golden brown texture as well.
9. Turn off the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
10. Take out this masala and leave at room temperature.
11. Properly marinate the fish pieces using the masala.
12. Once you’ve properly marinated the fish, wrap them up in the banana leaf.
13. You can cut and scale the banana leaf pieces as per the size of servings you want.
14. Tie up these banana lead wrapped fish with a thread.
15. Place these sealed banana leaves on coal.
16. Let them cook on the coal for 15-20 minutes.
17. Serve them hot.

Trivia:

• There are more than 27,000 different kinds of fish species in the world.
• The Whale shark is the largest species of fish anywhere in the world.