Ayla(Mackreal) Ada (Steamed Rice parcel stuffed with Mackreal fish in Banana leaf)

Ada or Ela Ada, is a traditional Kerala delicacy. I know its most of Keralites favourite item. But here is a different Ada recipe. Its another malabar delicacy, Fish Ada, I don’t know how you all accept this item, but its a really yummy dish. I had this from Mahe after my marriage, they serve this item as part of breakfast or as evening snack. So here is simple and easy recipe for you all to try..

Ingredients 

For Ada

• Rice Flour 1 cup (lightly roasted)
• Hot water as required
• Salt to taste
• Banana Leafs

For filling

• Ayla fish 3 cleaned and cut half

For frying fish

• Red Chilli powder 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp
• Salt
• Oil

For masala

• Grated Coconut 1 cup
• Shallots 6 nos
• Dry Red chilli 2 nos
• Fennel Seeds 1/4 tsp
• Ginger small piece chopped
• Garlic 4 cloves chopped
• Onion 1 medium size chopped
• Green chilli 3 nos chopped
• Tomato 1 medium size chopped
• Red chilli powder 1/4 tsp
• Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
• Garam Masala 1/4 tsp
• Salt 
• Curry Leaves
• Oil

Method

Clean and marinate Ayla(Mackreal) fish for 15 minutes. Then shallow fry the marinated fish and keep it aside.

Grind grated coconut along with dry red chilli and shallots, not too smooth paste. Keep it aside.

Make a dough with rice flour (like chapati dough , not too watery) by adding hot water and salt.

In the same pan which we fried fish add little more oil and put fennel seeds, once it leaves aroma add chopped ginger and garlic and saute for a minute. Add chopped onion and saute till it became translucent. Add green chilli and saute for 2 seconds. Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder and garam masala and saute for a second, add salt and combine well. Now add chopped tomatoes saute well cover n cook for two minutes. Open and add the ground coconut mixture and saute well. Cover and cook for 1 minute. Open and check salt, if required please add. Now add curry leaves and combine the mixture well. Put off the flame and keep it aside.

Place lemonsize dough in the centre of the banana leaf, flatten it with finger and spread the masala filling along with half piece of fried ayla fish on it. 

Fold the leaf in half , tuck the ends of the leaf. 

Place the Adas in a steamer / idli cooker and steam for 10 minutes. Continue the procedure till the dough, fish and masala gets over.

Ayla Ada is ready to serve. Its better to serve it warm.

NB: Here I used Ayla fish (half) and stuffed in the ada, you can use whole ayla fish or any other small fish or you can shred and remove tones the ayla fish after frying and mix with masala and stuff also. I know kids will enjoy the shredded fish stuffed one, so you all can try in that way. Enjoy cooking.