26/03/2024
Pickled Fish
We grew up with the most delightful coloured people - and this was Aunty Cutters recipe!
My daughter loves and must have pickled fish!
It's good to make the
Fish a day or two before the time so the flavours can mingle...
Ingredients
60ml cooking oil
3 large onions, cut into thin rings
2 Tblsp mild curry powder - I used Rajah
1 Tblsp hot curry powder (or use more mild)
1 tsp tumeric
3 bay leave
tblsp whole peppercorns
1 tsp whole allspice or allspice powder
A few bay leaves
1 tsp coarsely crushed black pepper
1/2 cup white vinegar
100 g sugar
2 kg hake fillets, cut into portions (use a mild white fish)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Flour, for dusting
Salt and pepper
Water
Method
In a large pan add 1 tbls oil and, when hot, gently sauté the onion until translucent. Add the spices and curry powders and whole peppercorns and fry gently for a few minutes, or until fragrant.
Add the bay leaves
Sprinkle some cake flour (about a tablespoon full) over the simmering onions and stir it through the onion mixture - add a quarter cup of water and cook and stir until the sauce thickens.
Add the vinegar and sugar and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Simmer for 20 minutes.
Now dust the fish with salt, pepper and flour (add some mild curry powder as well) and fry in the remaining oil, add more oil if you like - until crisp and cooked through. The fish should be crisp and yet juicy.
Place a layer of fish in a deep very clean glass or non-metallic container and pour a little of the hot sauce over it, to cover. Continue layering fish and sauce until all the fish is covered. If there is any juice or gravy from frying the fish, pour that over as well.
Cool, then chill until ready to serve.
You can divide the recipe if you like. To make half the quantity.