Mathi meen varuthathu| How to make Sardines fish fry & Its Health benefits

Mathi meen varuthathu or sardines fish fry recipe along with health benefits of sardine fish.

Sardines are very rich in nutrients and the beauty is everyone can afford to buy it. Yes, very less priced yet rich fish is sardine.

These are small oily fish variety and available in abundance for regular consumption.

Fresh sardines fishes are very much preferred by most of the seafood lovers.

Particularly, I have noticed many of our neighbors from Kerala are very much fond of this fish. They are sure to pick sardines whenever it is available fresh.

It is known as mathi meen in malayalam and fry is called mathi meen varuthathu.

We call it “Chaala meen” in Tamil. So, this fry is called Chaala meen varuthathu as well.

They usually say, the sardines available in Kerala is even more tastier than the sardines we get in Kuwait. However, I have not had sardines in Kerala, but I have tried it many times in Kuwait. Anyhow, I am not a great fan of sardines. But I know it has got lot of health benefits.

Mathi meen / sardines fish Health benefits

There are numerous health benefits of eating sardines fish.

1. Sardines are rich source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids.It has anti-flammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-oxidant properties.
   Omega-3 fatty acids are good for heart health, studies say that it can help reduce anxiety, depression, blood clots. Sardines can help promote brain functions. Even fish oil tablets are made out of this fish.
2. Sardines has both Vitamin D and calcium, thus protects our bone health.
3. One of the fish that has Vitamin B12. It is very important for healthy neural functions.
4. All the nutrients in it promotes good immunity system.
5. It reduces the risk of diabetics as it helps overcome insulin resistance.

For all the good reasons, I always attempt making this fish. However, as I mentioned earlier I am not a fan of this fish due to its strong fishy smell. This time, when I was mentioning about it to fish shop keeper, he suggested this recipe for fry masala. Because, the usual fry masala with red chilli powder didn’t go well with this.

I have tried it in the same way as suggested and I am sure that there is change in flavours and it was good too. So, I thought I would share this mathi meen varuthathu (Sardines fish fry) recipe with you guys too.

I have posted some more seafood recipes. Please check them out too.

I request you to check out my other fish fry recipes such as tilapia fish fry in egyptian style and lady fish fry. Each preparation is unique in its way.

Few of my fish curry recipes are:

1. Fish curry with coconut paste
2. Fried fish curry
3. Lady fish curry
4. Gonkura fish curry

Step-by-step pictures of Mathi meen fry

Clean and slit the sardines fish as shown in the pics below.

Grind and make paste

1. In a mixer jar, add green chilli, ginger, garlic and lemon juice and grind to paste. You can add few drops of water to grind it to fine paste.

Make Fry masala

2. Transfer the ground paste to mixing bowl

3. Then add salt, turmeric and pepper powder.

4. Further add rice powder and corn flour.

5. You can adjust corn flour quantity to make the masala paste sticky.

Appy masala on fish

6. Apply this masala mix on each fish pieces and coat well.

Marinate the fish if time permits

• You can marinate the fish pieces with this masala coating from 30 minutes to 2 hrs if you have time.
• I have not marinated this time, I fried it straight after applying masalas.

Fry the fish pieces

• Add required oil in a preheated skillet to shallow fry the fish pieces.
• Once the oil is medium hot, add fish pieces one by one.

• Flip and fry on both sides of fish.

• Transfer to a plate and drain the excess oil on kitchen towel.
• Garnish with fried curry leaves and lemon to squeeze.
• Serve hot.

I hope you will like this too.

Take care and keep safe.

Wish you tasty healthy days…