Fish Moilee / Meen Molee - Kerala Style Fish Stew

Fish Moilee or Meen Molee is a very popular Kerala fish stew / gravy cooked in coconut milk and spices. This is easy to prepare, mildly spiced and also flavorful fish gravy which goes well with appam or Idiyappam.

Give it a try and let me know your feedback!

Ingredients:

Fish - 500 gm ( preferably select fish with less bones)

Onion - 1 big (sliced lengthwise)

Ginger -1 " inch piece (finely chopped)

Garlic - 5 to 6 (finely chopped)

Green chillies - 5 to 6 (slited length wise) 

Tomato - 1 large ( sliced)

Thin coconut milk - ¾ cup 

Medium thin  coconut milk -1 cup 

Thick coconut milk - ½ to ¾ cup 

Garam masala powder -½ tsp 

Salt - to taste

To Marinate:

Pepper powder -1 tsp

Turmeric powder -½ tsp 

Lemon juice - 2 tsp

Salt - as required

For Seasoning:

Coconut oil - 1 or 2 tbsp ( including for shallow frying the fish)

Cinnamon -1 

Cloves - 3 

Cardamom - 2

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Directions:

Wash and clean the fish pieces;  pat dry.

Take a bowl; add turmeric powder, pepper powder , lemon juice and salt along with fish.

Mix well and marinate for half an hour .  Shallow fry it using  2 tsp of oil and keep aside.

In the same kadai, add the remaining oil and season it with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and curry leaves.

Once it splutters add onion, green chiliies, chopped ginger and garlic.  Fry till the onion becomes translucent.

Add the thin coconut milk and salt; when it starts boiling add the medium coconut milk. 

Add fried fish and tomato pieces and cover the pan with the lid ; allow to cook in medium flame for 10 minutes.

Un cover the pan; add garam masala powder and thick coconut milk.  Give a gentle mix.

Let it cook for another 2 to 3 minutes in a low flame and switch off the gas.

Garnish with curry leaves and serve hot with Appam or Idiyappam (string hoppers).

  

Note:

You can also add pepper powder to increase the spice level.