Indian Style Baked Whole Fish Masala | Baked fish with Indian Spices | Baked Fish Masala

Indian Style whole baked fish offers a succulent and flavorful recipe reminiscent of "meen polichadhu". This dish showcases the exquisite fusion of Indian spices, rendering it an exceptional choice for those seeking a delicious, low-oil fish option. For enhanced flavor, cooking the fish within a banana leaf is recommended. Unfortunately, due to my unfavorable circumstance, I was unable to acquire a banana leaf in my local area. As a result, I improvised with the available ingredients at home. Adjust the spice powders according to your taste to counteract the sourness of tomato. I thoroughly enjoyed the fish prepared using the measurements provided.

Baking fish has become a frequent occurrence in our household, primarily because my husband prefers less oily options. A recent favorite of mine is a zero-oil spicy salmon recipe, bearing a striking resemblance in taste to tandoori chicken. I will be sharing this recipe on my blog in the near future. Additionally, I invite you to explore my collection of other fish fry recipes.

• Fish fry
• Fish Thoran(All time favorite)
• Fish Finger
• Sankara Fish Varuval/Red Snapper Fish Fry
• Pomfret Fish Fry
• Pepper Fish Fry / Milagu Meen Varuval

Indian Baked Masala Fish

Recipe Cuisine: Fusion Food | Recipe Category: Baking / Seafood
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: 35 minutes | Serves: 2

Ingredients:

For 1st marination:

Fish - 1 whole
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Corn flour - 1 tsp
Tumeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tblspn

For the masala:

Onion - 1
Tomato - 2
Green chilli - 2
Garam masala - 1/2 tsp
Chillli powder - 1.5 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Ginger - 1 tsp
Oil - 1 tsp

Method:

Make deep cuts on both sides of the fish and wash the fish.

In a bowl, take lemon juice and add chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt and corn flour. Make a paste and rub all over the fish to coat evenly. Marinate the fish for 20 to 30 minutes or till the onion tomato masala is ready.

Finely chop onion, tomato, green chilli and ginger.

In a pan, add little oil. Once oil becomes hot, add in chopped ginger and green chilli. Saute for a minute.

Add in chopped onion and saute till it becomes translucent. To this, add turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala and saute for a minute.

Now, add the tomato chopped and little salt to cook the tomato faster. Once tomato gets mushy and cooked well remove from flame.

In a baking pan, place a butter paper or aluminum foil and place a banana leaf over it. Take little onion tomato masala and drop it on the banana leaf. Place the marinated fish over the masala.

Keep some masala inside the fish and above it. Cover the fish the leaf and wrap it with a foil or butter paper.

Preheat the oven for 400 F or 200 C and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Usually fish will get cooked in 20 minutes but for the masala to get absorbed into the fish deeper and more juicier we bake it for 30 minutes.

Once the fish gets baked, remove from the banana leaf and serve. Enjoy!

Note:

• It is optional to marinate the fish with corn flour.
• Use banana leaf for best result if not use aluminum foil instead of butter paper.

Pictorial:

Keep all the ingredients ready for the marination

In a bowl, squeeze little lemon juice

Add a teaspoon of chilli powder(This is juice for marination. Later we will add more to the masala too)

Add 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder

Add little corn flour(optional)

Make a thick paste

Rub all over the fish to coat evenly. Marinate the fish for 20 to 30 minutes or till the onion tomato masala is ready.

Finely chop onion, tomato, green chilli and ginger.

In a pan, add little oil. Once oil becomes hot, add in chopped ginger and green chilli. Saute for a minute.

Add in chopped onion and saute till it becomes translucent.

To this, add little turmeric powder

 A teaspoon of chilli powder is added. You can check the sourness from tomato and later adjust according to your taste

Add a teaspoon of coriander powder

Saute for a minute

Now, add the tomato chopped

Add little salt to cook the tomato faster.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala and keep cooking

Once tomato gets mushy and cooked well remove from flame.

In a baking pan, place a butter paper or aluminum foil and place a banana leaf over it. Take little onion tomato masala and drop it on the banana leaf.(As i did not get banana leaf i placed directly in the butter paper. But baking with a banana leaf adds more flavor to the taste. If not i suggest you to use aluminium foil.)

Place the marinated fish over the masala.

Keep some masala inside the fish

and above it.

I kept some lemon slices on the top. This is optional.

Cover the fish the leaf and wrap it with a foil or butter paper.

Preheate the oven for 400 F or 200 C and bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Usually fish will get cooked in 20 minutes but for the masala to get absorbed into the fish deeper and become more juicier we bake it for 30 minutes.

Once baked, unwrap and serve. Enjoy!