Meen Molee - Fish Molee - Moilee

Meen Molee / Fish Molee/ Moilee (Fish Stewed in Coconut Milk)
By : Mareena Jerrish

Ingredients

Any Firm fleshed fish steaks 750 gms
Salt to taste
Pepper powder 1/2 teaspoon
Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon
For the Gravy
Mustard seeds 1 teaspoon
Curry leaves 2 sprigs
Sliced onion 2-3
Tomatoes (Quartered) 2
Slit green chillies 5-6
Ginger paste 1 teaspoon
Garlic paste 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder 3/4 teaspoon
Fennel powder 1/2 teaspoon
Coconut milk 3/4 cup
Coconut milk 2-1/4 cups
Salt to taste

Steps

Marinate the fish steaks with turmeric powder, salt and pepper powder and keep aside for at least 15 minutes.
Heat oil in a pan.
Lightly fry the fish on both sides.
It needn't be brown in colour.
Frying the fish will help in keeping it firm.
Drain and keep aside.
Heat oil in another pan (preferably wide pan).
Add the mustard seeds, When they start to splutter, add the curry leaves and sliced onion.
When the onion turns slightly pink and opaque, add the green chillies, ginger paste and garlic paste and saute till raw smell goes.
Add the turmeric powder and fennel powder and stir for a few seconds.
Tip in the tomatoes and cook till it becomes soft.
Add the thin coconut milk.
Check and adjust the seasoning.
When it starts to boil, add the fried fish steaks into it.
Hold the pan and shake a bit.
It is better that spoon is not used lest it breaks the fish.
If you need the gravy to be more sour, you may add vinegar.
Finally add the thick coconut milk and shake again.
When it starts to boil, switch off heat.
This curry goes well with Rice, Hoppers (Appam), String Hoppers(Idiyappam) etc.