Meen Varuthathu (Kerala Fish Fry)
Fish steaks coated in a fiery red paste of chili, black pepper, ginger, garlic and lemon, shallow-fried in coconut oil with curry leaves until crisp at the edges. Served with rice and curry in Kerala homes.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Make the spice paste
In a small bowl, mix the , hot chili powder, pepper, turmeric, , rice flour, salt and the juice of half the lemon with 1-2 tablespoons of water. Stir into a thick, spreadable paste. Save the other lemon half for serving.
- 2 tsp
- 1 tsp hot chili powder
- 1 tsp black pepper, crushed
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp
- juice of ½ lemon lemon juice
- 1 tbsp rice flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1-2 tbsp water
✅ Done when: paste is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon without dripping
Marinate
Make shallow slits in the fish and rub the spice paste all over, pressing it into the cuts. Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
- 600g fish steaks
- all of it the spice paste from step 1
✅ Done when: fish is fully coated and the paste has darkened slightly
Fry
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Serve
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Make the spice paste
In a small bowl, mix the , hot chili powder, pepper, turmeric, , rice flour, salt and the juice of half the lemon with 1-2 tablespoons of water. Stir into a thick, spreadable paste. Save the other lemon half for serving.
- 2 tsp
- 1 tsp hot chili powder
- 1 tsp black pepper, crushed
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp
- juice of ½ lemon lemon juice
- 1 tbsp rice flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1-2 tbsp water
✅ Done when: paste is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon without dripping
Marinate
Make shallow slits in the fish and rub the spice paste all over, pressing it into the cuts. Cover and marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
- 600g fish steaks
- all of it the spice paste from step 1
✅ Done when: fish is fully coated and the paste has darkened slightly
Fry
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
Serve
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
The Story Behind the Dish
Fried fish is part of almost every meal on Kerala's coast, where the day's catch is marinated in a simple red masala and shallow-fried in coconut oil.
It's an essential part of the toddy-shop menu, where fish fry is served alongside spicy curries and tapioca.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Crisp, spicy and simple, Kerala fish fry shows off the freshest fish with very few ingredients.
💡 Fun Fact
Coconut oil and curry leaves are the two ingredients that make almost any Kerala dish instantly recognisable.
Kerala
9.93°N, 76.27°E
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