Filled Mackerels (Ayala Nirachathu)

Filled Mackerels (Ayala Nirachethu) Malabar style

Ingredients

Mackerels	5 large ones
All purpose flour	2-3 tbsp
Oil	To fry

Ingredients for filling

Coconut scrapped	200 gm
Green chillies	2 Nos
Small onions (Shallots)	5 Nos
Ginger Chopped	1 Tbsp
Garlic chopped	1 tbsp
Turmeric powder	A pinch
Salt	To taste
Cumin seed powder	A pinch

Ingredients for marinade

Green chillies	4 Nos
Ginger chopped ….	1 tsp
Garlic chopped	1 tsp
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Coriander leaves chopped	2 tbsp
Mint leaves chopped	2 tbsp
Curry leaves chopped	1 spring
Salt	To taste

Preparation

Clean the makrels and remove the tail and fins. Carefully cut the head away and remove the intestines through this opening and clean it thoroughly. Making a small cut at the bottom end of the belly makes it easy to remove the intestines and clean it.

For the filling

Heat one Tbsp. oil in a pan and sauté chopped green chilli, onion, curry leaves, ginger, garlic Coriander leaves, mint leaves (from the ingredients for filling) and then add turmeric powder, cumin powder and salt and mix together. Add scrapped coconut, mix together, and remove from heat and keep aside to cool. When cooled fill the mackerel with this filling.

Now grind the ingredients for the marinating paste in a mixer grinder and smear the mackerels with it…. Make a paste using all purpose flour, water and salt and cover the open ends of the mackerels with it.
Now heat oil in a pan and deep fry the mackerels.