Fish Roe Fry | Kerala ‘Palinjeen’ Fry

Fish Roe Fry is a favorite in our house. Whenever I get good fish roe (Fish Eggs), I usually prepare it in this way. Both female fish roe (Hard Roe) and male fish roe (Soft Roe), may be used.. In the picture, I have used only the Hard Roe of King Fish. The roe is cooked in spiced and seasoned coconut milk before frying (scrambling) in coconut oil. Yum!

Fish Roe Fry | Kerala Palinjeen Fry

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Ingredients:

• 250 gms fresh fish roe, any variety – can be hard roe (female) or soft roe (male) or a combination
• 4 cloves garlic, bruised
• 2 slices of ginger
• 1 shallot, sliced (1 Tbsp)
• 1 Tbsp green chilli
• 1 ½ tsp chilli powder
• 1/3 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 Tbsp curry leaves
• 1 piece of gambooge (fish tamarind)
• 1/3 tsp salt or to taste
• 1 ¼ cup coconut milk (not too thin, not too thick)

• 4 Tbsp coconut oil
• a few ‘extra’ curry leaves

Method:

• Wash the fish roe well. If there is any blackish membrane, peel and discard as this can be bitter when cooked.
• Add the fish roe to an earthen pot along with all ingredients except coconut oil and ‘extra’ curry leaves.
• Bring to a boil. Stir gently and then reduce heat.
• Simmer, uncovered till the coconut milk reduces, forming a thick sauce, coating the fish roe. Stir occasionally.
• Heat oil in a small wok or frying pan. Add the fish roe. You can remove the chunks of garlic,ginger and gambooge,  before adding the roe to the pan.
• Fry with occasional stirring at first. Once the roe starts to get golden. start to stir more frequently, breaking up the roe gently as you do so.
• Once the fried roe turns golden brown add the curry leaves and fry till they turn crisp.  Careful not to over-fry the roe,rendering them dry.

Fish Roe Fry | Kerala Palinjeen Fry

• The picture below is of fried soft roe (male fish egg) only. I like both, although Female fish roe is my favorite. It’s nice to combine the two as well.
• Ask for fish roe, at your local fish market. It is often sold on its own and you dont have to buy a fish with eggs in it!
• Remove the thin black or membrane with veins on it, if you see that. It can cause the fish roe to be bitter. Different varieties of roe can taste different. I like the roe of king fish.

Key Ingredients: Fish Roe, Coconut Milk, Shallots, Ginger, Garlic, Chilli Turmeric, Fish Tamarind (Gambooge), Coconut Oil, Curry Leaves, Salt.

Leave a comment if you tried – Fish Egg Fry | Kerala ‘Palinjeen’ Fry .