The Best Fish I Every Tasted in the Little Local Street of Goa

Today, I am going to take you all fish lovers on a journey to inner parts of Goa. I have had lots of different fish curries at different places in Goa. We started going to Goa when I was a little girl and since then have traveled all over Goa almost regularly. Goa has since become my favorite destination for this reason amongst the many other things like it's scenic beauty and peaceful many temples. There are lots of delicacies in Goa like Pork or prawn balchao and Fish curry but the dish that stuck out in my mind most was the fried fish in a banana leaf. I had it first in a small place where they would serve home made food and would ask you to pay whatever you wished as a payment. It was run by a woman for whom this was the main source of income. After tasting this fish, me and my Dad entered her kitchen one day and specifically asked for the recipe so I am going to share it with you all too.

Ingredients:

1 Full white Pomfret (just remove the wings and end of the tail)
1 large banana leaf (make sure it's crisp and green)
2/3 tsp turmeric powder
1 1/2-2 tsp mild red chili powder
1/2 tsp tamarind puree
1/2 tsp garlic puree
salt to taste
1/2 tsp oil or spray oil

Clean the banana leaf with water and dry it with a cloth. Now either smear the oil with fingers or spray evenly with 1 calorie oil spray. Now in a bowl, mix turmeric powder, red chili powder, tamarind puree, garlic puree and salt. Mix well with 1/2 tsp of water to make sure there are no lumps and it's a smooth paste. Now slit the pomfret on one side making a pouch. Smear this mixture in the pouch and all over the pomfret. Now keep this marinated fish on the banana leaf and wrap well. You can use a toothpick to secure the wrap. Now keep this wrapped fish refrigerated for at least an hour. Now pre-heat the oven for 30 minutes and back this fish for another 40 minutes in the oven (20 minutes on each side) at a medium high heat. Open the wrap and cut the fish in pieces and serve with salad. This is the most favorite dish in our home as everyone in our family loves fish.

Thanks to the wonderful lady in Goa who not only served us this dish time and time again but also shared the recipe with us. I think that's why they call Goa a land of good people, food and beauty. You will meet lots of different kinds of people who would be willing to help you in anything. My memories still take me back to the small street behind the local temple where there used to be this woman who used to run a small business from home, everytime I cook this dish.