Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Mith Miryatii Machhi
Mith Miryatii Machhi (Salt & Pepper Fish)

Mith Miryatii Machhi

Salt & Pepper Fish
Non-vegetarian●●●Origin CoastalPrep 15 minutes, plus marinating timeCook 20 minutes

Pan-seared fish fillets seasoned with cracked black pepper and lime, then wrapped in banana leaf parcels and toasted until fragrant.

Pepper mix

20 gRubbed over the fish fillets with the marinade (step 2)
01
17 g2 tablespoons
spice
Combine the crushed and ground peppers together.

Everything else

01
30 g1 piece
other
02
White fish fillet · Safed Machhlitrimmed, rinsed and patted dry with kitchen paper (paper towels)
1000 g
fish
04
31 g2 tablespoons
souring agent
05
28 g2 tablespoons
oil/fat
06
to taste
salt

Method

  1. Soften 1 banana leaf by passing it over a gentle gas flame for a few seconds until flexible (or immerse it briefly in boiling water, rinse with cold water, and pat dry). Slice into four 25-cm (10-inch) squares.
  2. Place 1000 g fish fillets into a shallow dish. Rub the pepper mix, 1 g coriander leaf, 30.6 g lime juice, and salt to taste evenly over the fish. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a wide frying pan set over medium heat. Fry the fish fillets for 5 to 10 minutes per side.
  4. Transfer each fillet onto the centre of a banana leaf square, wrap into a neat parcel, and tie closed with kitchen string (or wrap securely in foil).
  5. Warm a tawa, griddle, or frying pan over medium heat. Cook the parcels for 5 minutes on each side and serve immediately in their wrappers.

Don't have something?

Banana leaf
  • Green cabbage

    Blanch large outer leaves for 30 seconds and use as a parcel; use the same size to wrap. No banana aroma.

  • Collard greens

    Blanch whole leaves for 1 minute and use as a wrap; slightly tougher and more peppery.

White fish fillet
  • Firm white fish fillet

    Use the same weight; cut to the same thickness so it cooks evenly.

  • Boneless fish

    Use the same weight; check for bones and reduce cooking by 2–3 minutes if thinner.

  • Pomfret or haddock fillet

    Use the same weight; haddock is softer, so handle gently and cook 2 minutes less.

Black peppercorn
  • Coarsely ground black pepper

    Use 75% of the weight. Add midway through simmering; spreads heat evenly through the dish instead of delivering isolated bursts.

  • Ground black pepper

    Use 50% of the weight. Stir in near the end of cooking; significantly darkens light gravies and provides an immediate, sharp bite.

Ground black pepper
  • Black peppercorn

    Use 1:1 by weight; pulverise in a spice mill or mortar to a fine powder for immediate, punchy heat.

  • Coarsely ground black pepper

    Use equal weight; offers the same bite, though it gives a visibly speckled finish and firmer crunch.

Coriander leaf
  • Coriander

    Use equal weight finely chopped; this is the exact same fresh herb.

  • Mint

    Use half the weight finely chopped; provides vibrant green freshness, though the flavour profile becomes noticeably cooler and sharper.

Lime juice
  • Lemon juice

    Use equal volume or weight; slightly sweeter and less pungent, but otherwise an imperceptible swap.

  • Dried mango powder

    Use 25% of the weight; imparts dry, fruity sourness, best stirred in right at the end of cooking.

  • Tamarind extract

    Use 50% of the weight; delivers pleasant fruity tang but turns pale sauces considerably darker.

Ghee or butter
  • Ghee

    Use the same weight. Gives a richer aroma and nuttier taste; if the dish already uses butter for finishing, ghee can make it slightly heavier.

  • Butter

    Use the same weight. Lower smoke point than ghee, so keep the heat moderate; if unsalted, add a small pinch of salt.

  • Vegetable oil or ghee

    Use about 90% of the weight. Less rich flavour; good when you want a lighter result.

Similar dishes

Maspatotia
Fish Roasted in Banana Leaves
Maspatotia tastes pungent, spicy, and smoky from mustard and green chilli, while this dish tastes peppery, citrusy, and buttery.
  • Same: Maspatotia shares firm white fish fillets and banana-leaf wrapping with this dish.
  • Different: Maspatotia uses a green chilli and mustard-seed paste with mustard oil and no lime, black pepper, butter, ghee, or listed salt, and it pan-grills to char rather than toasting.
Kothmiratil Machhi
Coriander (Cilantro)-flavoured Fried Fish
Kothmiratil Machhi tastes crisp, herbaceous, green-chilli hot, and tangy with a slight sweetness, while this dish tastes buttery, peppery, and lime-forward with a toasted banana-leaf aroma.
  • Same: Kothmiratil Machhi shares with this dish the use of fish, salt, and lime juice as seasoning.
  • Different: Kothmiratil Machhi is coated in rice flour and fried in vegetable oil with a green paste of coriander, green chilli, ginger, garlic, turmeric, and sugar, while this dish is pan-seared in butter or ghee with cracked black pepper and lime and toasted in banana leaf.
Ambat Dahyatil Machhi
Fried Soured Cream Fish
It delivers a rich, dairy-tangy flavor with a crunchy crust rather than the sharp citrus punch and aromatic pepper heat of this dish.
  • Same: Ambat Dahyatil Machhi also features fish fillets seasoned with black pepper and salt.
  • Different: Instead of using lime juice and banana leaves, it marinates the fish in soured cream with ginger and garlic pastes, coats it in rice flour, and deep-fries it in vegetable oil.
Fish Fry
Fried Fish Fillets
Fish Fry tastes richer and pungently savory from alliums and green chillies, lacking the sharp, citrusy black pepper profile of this dish.
  • Same: Fish Fry also uses fish fillets seasoned with ground black pepper and salt.
  • Different: Fish Fry is fried in vegetable oil using an aromatic paste of onion, ginger, garlic, and green chillies, whereas this dish uses lime juice and whole black peppercorns toasted in banana leaf parcels without oil.