Sardine is tasty, rich and healthy sea fish. In north Kerala or Malabar it is called Mathi (മത്തി) and in south Malabar it is called Chaala (ചാള). Sardines are rich in vitamins, minerals and natural source of Omegaa-3 fatty acids.
Sardines/ Chala/ Mathi fish is a popular among most Keralites and it is available there in cheap and affordable prices. They consume this healthy and tasty fish as curried and fried forms.
Back home Kerala, kappa and spicy mathi/Sardine curry, mathi/chala/sardine fry, mathi/chaala peera pattichathu are my all time mouth watering dishes and I used to enjoy it until my mind was over full rather than my stomach 😉 😀 Sadly in Singapore, fresh sardines available only occasionally 🙁 but whenever my eyes catches fresh sardines/mathi, my hands surely grab some then will prepare and enjoy as like a typical keralite 🙂 You can see that spirit in my method pictures too 🙂 Also I am introducing to you my first infographics cookery presentation, hope that pictorical cookery chart or visual representation of recipe and information help you all to understand things very quick and easy.
Recipe Type | Kerala(India)/Seafood Side Dish |
Cooking and Preperation Time | 20 to 30 minutes |
marinating time | 30 to 40 Minutes |
Serve to | 2 to 3 |
Ingredients For Mathi (മത്തി)Varuthathu/ Sardine Fry Kerala (Indian) Style
Ingredient | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|
Fresh Mathi /Sardine | 8 Numbers | |
Ginger | ½ inch Fat Piece | Skinned and Diced |
Garlic | 3 Fat Cloves | Skinned and Diced |
Shallots/Kochu Ulli | 4to 5 Numbers | Skinned and Diced |
Chili Powder | 1 Tablespoon | |
Fresh Black Pepper Powder | 1 Teaspoon | |
Turmeric Powder | ¼ Teaspoon | |
Lime Juice | 1 Teaspoon | Optional (Reduce the fishy smell) |
Curry Leaves | 1 Sprig | Cut into Small |
Salt | As per your taste | |
Oil | For Frying |
Method For Mathi (മത്തി) Varuthathu/ Sardine Fry Kerala (Indian) Style
• Clean and cut fish with head or without. Make some slits on both sides.
• In a blender jar (small), place ginger, garlic and small onion. Blend and make paste form.
• In a mixing bowl, place fish, blended paste, spice powders, and curry leaves, lime juice and salt. Mix and marinate well.
• Keep marinated fish next 30 to 40 minutes in a room temperature.
• Heat oil in a frying pan. When oil is hot enough for frying, add fish.
• Fry it until both sides are brown and crispy or your desired texture. (Some people like deep fried mathi/sardine fries and some like shallow fried)
• Serve hot with boiled rice, kappa etc. and enjoy 🙂
Seena Koshy says
Chummathae kothippikkallae Rani inganae.. Mathi varuthathu looks so tasty.. I love always this fish fry.
Anu - My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
Woah! This is such a lovely and rustic looking fish fry. Lovely share, Rani.