Ayila porichathundu...

 
















"Ayila Porichathundu, Karimeen varuthathundu, Kudampuli ittu vacha nalla chemmeen kariyumundu....unnan vaa machunane!"There has perhaps never been a better film song which celebrated the Kerala sea food so well...and think about 'ayila'/bangda/mackerel/.... even decades after...this song still plays on the lips of many malayalis.I think no 'machunan' can ever resist eating that food!Mackerel is a very tasty fish and you can make a variety of dishes with it.Something as simple as a fry is enough for you to eat a plate full of rice(for those who love sea food!).

Clean the mackerel, make 3 or 4 slits,marinate it with some chillipowder, a pinch of turmeric and salt and just shallow fry it in oil.Sprinkle a little pepper powder once it has fried both the sides. Those who love garlic flavour can add 2 or 3 pods of garlic crushed along with some curry leaves when the fish is almost half cooked. If you add it earlier, it may get charred....Ayila ready! In fact, the oil in which you have fried the fish is tastier than any curry.As kids my brother and I used to wait for the fry pan rather than the fry! Now tis my husband's turn to join the competition for the fry pan!!We love it... 

Kallummakkayi fry
 

You can use the same marinade for Kallummakayi/mussels fry also.