Monday, December 13, 2010

Fish platter (Meen Saappadu)

This post is not on any recipe but to show you all a kind of platter available in restaurants of TamilNadu (and some parts of  Kerala). They call it as meen(fish) saappadu (meals). I am sure it is an unique name for many out there, but people in my native place love this platter than many non veg dishes:) You can get this kind of meal in any non veg restaurant in Tamilnadu. This  plate will include a big cup of fine rice or red rice, a thin slice of  king fish fry,a bowl of thick fish curry, some vegetables, boiled egg or an omelet ,sambar,  rasam, buttermilk etc  and everything will be neatly served in a tender banana leaf. Can you imagine that!

My father-in-law is an ardent fan of fish and he will order this  whenever we go to a restaurant. While in Madras,  I too tried my best to make this platter on his visits . At that time, as a newly married I would put a lot of effort in getting him all the sea foods he may like. And one day he told me that he likes crab very much but had no opportunity to taste them because of my mother-in-law's preference:) So I prepared nandu kulambu (crab curry) immediately the next day and waited to hear his comments. Then only he told me that he has tasted crab made by his mother as a 6 year old and after loosing her, he had not had it at home and appreciated my effort a lot.I hold his words in my heart and cherish them forever. So whenever he comes to our home I would try to prepare a few things he likes the best:) I am dedicating this post to him:)



Meen saappadu .

The above plate shows rice, fish curry, fried fish, shark puttu (scrambled), mashed greens (keerai masiyal)and mangoes.I couldn't cut that king fish piece into a fine slice, so made it a big chunks:)  Yes, It is a tradition in my home town to have ripe mango with fish curry and rice:) The options are endless and I am sure you all enjoyed this Tirunelveli style fish platter:)

Enjoy!

15 comments:

Priya Suresh said...

Slurp, i wont bother to grab and finish that whole plate rite now, very tempting..

Swathi said...

Viki,

These is delicious platter. i liked your effort to make good fish curry for your father-in-law. My father-in-law like only whatever mother-in-law cooks. He is fine with tea i make.

divya said...

looks tempting and delicious.can u pass to me..

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Mmm treat for fish lovers..looks so so delicious.

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thanks Priya.

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thanks Divya. Thank you pavithra.

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thank you Swathi, but according to me you cook better than me and you deserve more appreciation dear:)

Cham said...

I am an ardent fan of seafood, I would really settled down happily with this plate!

Shama Nagarajan said...

delicious platter

Vikis Kitchen said...

Cham: Thanks you cham. ha ha ha...I understand dear.
Shama: Thanks dear.

Unknown said...

Interesting!!Meen saapadu is something new to me:)

Devasena Hariharan said...

my mouth really waters now..

JishasKitchen said...

thanks for the post/..

Jaleela Kamal said...

மீன் சாப்பாடு ரொம்ப பிடிச்சது அதுவும் மேங்கோ உடன் யம்மி

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Viki
Merry Christmas and Happy New year

Chow chow Paruppu koottu and peel thogayal

Chow chow / Bangalore Kathirikai / Chayote  A dal curry paruppu koottu with chow chow and a spicy chutney using it's peel (chow chow tho...