Unakkameen Chammanthi

Unakkameen podi is the mixture of fried dry fish and shredded coconut, which is blended to form a chutney powder. It is also called by the name unakkameen chammanthi. You can use any kind of dry fish for this recipe. I had used dry shark since it was easily available in my place. This dish can be easily prepared and is one of the best side dish for rice gruel or rice porridge.
Dry fish pieces are first soaked in water to remove the excess salt in them. They are then marinated and fried. Coarse them in a mixer along with shallots and dry red chillies. Now add grated coconut and blend once again. This coconut and dry fish mixture are then cooked in hot oil for few minutes. I can say that, this is an amazing side dish for rice. Do try the recipe at your home also.

Course – Side dish

Cuisine – Kerala

Cooking Time – 15 minutes

Serves – 5

Ingredients :

1. Dry fish (shark or any fish)- 250 g

2. Kashmiri chilli powder – 1 tablespoon

3. Shallots – 8

4. Dry red chillies – 7

5. Grated coconut – 1 cup

6. Curry leaves – 1 sprig

7. Salt – optional

8. Coconut oil – 2 tbspn

Method of Preparation :

1. Clean and cut the dry fish into pieces.
2. Take a vessel, add the fish pieces. Then add water to the vessel to remove the excess salt from the dry fish pieces.
3. Keep it undisturbed for 1 hour.
4. After 1 hour, marinate the fish pieces with kashmiri chilli powder.
5. Heat oil in a pan and fry the fish pieces.
6. Keep the fried fish pieces aside. You can remove the thorn of fish and take out only the flesh portion, if the fish pieces are big.
7. Blend together fried fish pieces, shallots and dry red chillies in a mixer for 10 seconds.
8. To the same mixer, add grated coconut and blend coarsely. Do not make fine powder.
9. Add this mixture to the pan which we had fried the fish.
10. Saute the fish powder in the same oil for 3 to 4 minutes.
11. Add curry leaves to the pan and mix everything well.
12. You can serve along with boiled rice, boiled tapiocas, etc.