A healthy take on a very popular way of preparing fish in Kerala wrapped in banana leaves. I love fish and a fresh fillet always makes my day. This melt in the mouth Basa is a simple, easy to prepare recipe. Cooking in banana leaves is very common in Kerala. There is a reason for steaming/ cooking food in banana leaves as well. The leaf wrap protects food from getting burnt whenever its cooked on an open flame which is a very common way of cooking. It holds the heat inside and cooks the fish in juices. This also gives an aromatic flavor to the fish.

Ingredients :

-          1 lb Basa Fish Fillet

-          1 cup of coriander leaves

-          ½ cup mint leaves

-          5-6 garlic cloves

-          1 inch ginger

-          4-5 green chilies

-          1 cup water

-          2 tbsp olive oil

-          2 tbsp vinegar

-          Banana leaves

-          Thread to tie

-          Salt to taste

Method :

Take a steamer. Add water in it and put a lid on it. Turn on the heat and let it build the steam. Take a jar of the grinder. Add coriander leaves, mint leaves, garlic cloves, ginger and green chilis to it. Take 1 cup water and add 1 tbsp vinegar to it. Mix well. Add water little by little to the jar until it forms a paste. Cut the banana leaves a little bigger than the fillet. Turn on the flame to low and heat the banana leaves over it. Don’t burn them. Heat it till it changes its color to light green. Add olive oil and vinegar to the paste and mix well. Place the fillet on the banana leaves. Add a little salt on it. Apply the paste on both sides of the fillet and wrap the banana leaves. Tie it with the thread and keep aside. Do it for all the fillets. Now put the fillet one at a time in the steamer and let it steam for 4 mins. Turn it around and steam it for 4 more mins. Repeat this for all the fillets. Your steamed fish is ready to serve. Enjoy!!