Catch of the Day, Kerala Style

I must have eaten this dish at least 4 times while in Fort Cochin, at the best restaurant in town, Oceanos. Some other choices not be missed include the roast duck (which we had for our New Year's Eve dinner), the prawns curry, and the beef chops. Each of the dishes demonstrate typical Keralan flavors: light curries, coconut milk, cucum or fish tamarind, turmeric, chilies, and with 590 kilometers of coast, of course, seafood is the star attraction in these dishes.

Here's a version of Oceanos's banana leaf fish curry:

1 large onion chopped
1 tbsp ginger chopped
1 tbsp garlic chopped
1 cup coconut milk mixed with 1 cup of water
1 cup coconut milk
4-5 curry leaves
1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 kg kingfish, swordfish or butterfish

Saute onion, ginger, and garlic. Add turmeric and chili powder. Add coconut milk with water mixture to pan. Cook until pan almost dry.  Add curry leaves and coconut milk. Place fish in banana leaves, pour mixture over fish, close banana leaves and grill until fish is done. Serve with rice and mixed vegetables stewed in coconut milk.

Try it and let me know how it turned out!

Here are some other dishes to try when you're in Fort Cochin...

Freshly grilled prawns

Keralan Roast Duck

Drawing while waiting for New Year's Eve dinner