Karimeen( Pearl Spot)is the state fish of Kerala & is often held synonymous with the cuisine of the state .It is largely found in the freshwater of backwaters or the brackish water in estuaries . I find it a bit ironic as karimeen tends to be more expensive ,making it out of reach to the common man unless they fish themselves. Also as a state we tend to eat salt water fishes more because of the extensive coastline & fishing industry, for the layman I think it is Matthi or chaala as it is called in the southern part of the state that reigns supreme. There are some who differentiate between the two as well & call only the bigger rounded ones as Matthi. A bowl of Chaala curry is all that is required for a lot of people here to finish a cauldron of rice. My grandmother would often fry it & serve it with other curries as part of the lunch while I was growing up. It is nutritious , inexpensive , an oily fish very rich in Omega 3 fatty acids.No wonder they are referred to as Indian Oil Sardines. In this part of the country , chaala kari is standard post partum care for mothers to rejuvenate themselves. I like it both in kari & fried format. So in the pic I have tried to fry it in two ways even though they may look similar. The brighter red ones are the ones fried in high flame , rendering the fish juicy & masala red. The darker more charred ones is how typically my aunt fries it in an irumbu Cheena chatti ( Iron Kadai) , in low flame till they become crispy. These are often packed with the Pothichoru & can be had fully without removing the bones, making it a good source of calcium as well. While I was growing up my mom would often give me her share too because I used to love fried fish. Now I insist on her to eat equally well as she needs more calcium than I do. I also believe mothers should not always have to sacrifice for others .As you grow up , it is for the children to actively take care of their interests & health because they may forget in their love, but you shouldn't . That is how I believe life becomes a full circle. Happy Mother's Day everyone! #foodloose #mothersday #chaala #matthi #meen #porichathu #friedfish #sardines #menwhocook #homemadefood #fish https://www.instagram.com/p/B__m4kJlli7/?igshid=utzh0pvikez2
