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Meen Peera | Nethili Meen Avial Recipe | Fish with Coconut

Meen Peera, also known as Nethili Meen Avial in some parts of South India & Kerala is a delicious fish preparation with coconut, chillies, shallots & spices. This delicious fish is made with anchovies(nethili), raw mango & coconut masala. Learn how to make Kerala style meen peera with step by step pictures and video.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Indian, South Indian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 263 kcal

Equipment

Clay Pot
Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 250 grams Nethili meen | Anchovies
  • 2 teaspoon Tamarind paste
  • 1 no Raw mango peeled and sliced thinly
  • 4 no Green chillies slit
  • 3 sprigs Curry leaves
  • 3 tablespoon Coconut oil
  • Salt to taste

For grinding

  • 1 cup Fresh Coconut
  • 4 no Dry red chillies
  • 4 cloves Garlic
  • 1 tablespoon Coriander seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon Black pepper
  • 6 no Sambar onion Shallots
  • 1 teaspoon Turmeric powder

Instructions
 

  • Grind all the ingredients in the list to a coarse mixture. Don't add water when grinding. The mixture has to be dry and coarsely crushed. Set aside.
  • Now take cleaned anchovies, sliced raw mango, slit green chillies, curry leaves, salt, tamarind paste in a kadai. Add the ground masala into the fish. Pour ¼ cup of water into the blender jar, swirl it around and add it into the fish.
  • Use your hands to mix the coconut masala well with the fish. Press the fish into the mud kadai. Now Cover with a lid and put it over heat. Let it cook for 5 minutes on high heat covered. After 5 minutes open the lid, the mixture will be boiling. Now use a fork to gently mix the fish, don’t mix too much else the fish will break. Once it is mixed gently, cover again and cook on medium heat for 5 more minutes.
  • Open the lid and check whether the fish is cooked. Turn off the heat, Now pour in coconut oil and a handful of curry leaves. Cover again and let it sit for 10 minutes.
  • Serve this with rice.

Video

Notes

  • Nethili or anchovies are tiny delicate fish. Don't over mix or over cook, else it may fall apart and disintegrate.
  • Mix the masala with the fish and then start cooking.
  • Coconut oil and curry leaves added in the end imparts so much flavour so don't skip that step.
  • It is best to cook this in a clay pot, you can use any pot as you like. 
  • Slit drumsticks can be added in this dish too. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Meen Peera | Nethili Meen Avial Recipe | Fish with Coconut
Serving Size
 
1 servings
Amount per Serving
Calories
263
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
 
15
g
94
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Cholesterol
 
38
mg
13
%
Sodium
 
75
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
392
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
 
8
g
3
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
111
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
34
mg
41
%
Calcium
 
126
mg
13
%
Iron
 
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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