This flavorful traditional South African pickled fish recipe is typically eaten at Easter after a 48 hour soak in curried and pickled onions.

While there are many versions to pickled fish this is a spicy, slightly hot, delicious and traditional family recipe. To get the best taste from this pickled fish prepare it in advance and refrigerate it for 2 to 3 days before serving.

Picked fish is mainly to replace the eating of meat ( by religious tradition) on Good Friday.

This recipe is eaten with hot cross buns and it's very normal to make large quantities so that it can last the entire Easter holiday because this is one of those wonderful recipes where the longer it stands in the fridge the better it tastes! If it lasts throughout the Easter weekend.

My Traditional South African Pickled Fish Recipe

Always something special about recipes that have been handed down from one generation to another. Recipes that you grow up witnessing being made, eating and in turn making it for your own family.

Easter Friday also known as Good Friday holds memories for me of being bundled up in the car and off to church which of course are fond memories (except those long church service hours at such a young age) more importantly however, are the wonderful memories of pickled fish and hot cross buns! Those are crystal clear obviously because I've always loved delicious food and also because we were kids so we were always hungry 🙂

A LITTLE PICKLED FISH HISTORY

Some say it came about because fishing boats didn't used to go out over the Easter weekend making the pickling of fish a necessity in the days before fridges and freezers. Referenced

Growing up in the 70’s food and life was a lot more basic than it is now (in certain situations). When it was Easter there was no question that pickled fish was going to be on the menu and perhaps the only food on the menu 🙂 Besides hot cross buns of course which is what you eat pickled fish with.

I cannot imagine my mother having ever said “I found this new way to make pickled fish” unimaginable!

It was what it was, how you knew it and that was the end. No recipe suggestions, no tweaks and no changes. There has got to be something special about such recipes that’s why they are called ‘traditional’.

A FEW REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS RECIPE

It’s absolutely addictive whether or not you like onions (seriously)
Pickled fish can also be eaten at Easter because it's essentially a spicy fish recipe
Traditional recipes have so much more depth in the food no matter the cuisine
There has got to be something said for trying out a new and different cuisine

There are many religious beliefs pertaining to the eating of pickled fish over the Easter week-end and specifically on Easter Friday. One of these reasons is that eating pickled fish stems from Roman Catholics not wanting to eat warm blooded animals on Fridays hence only pickled fish on a Good Friday is generally enjoyed.

ingredients

Onions
Spices which is the essence of this recipe
2 large fairly flat bowls for the flour and egg
Large non stick pan
Kitchen tissue towel paper
Canola oil for frying
White wine vinegar
A pair of tongs

Don't discard the liquid after adding the cooked spiced onions to the dish. Pour it in over the fish and if you want more liquid, top this liquid up with white wine vinegar and water, taste and pour over the fish.

Important Recipe Notes, Suggestions & Tips

Use room temperature fish.
If you prefer more liquid increase the quantity of the white wine vinegar & water by small amounts just before transferring the fish into the glass dish.
When dipping the fish into the flour try using as little flour as possible because you want to lightly coat the fish in flour and not have parts of flour in your pan. Also I find that the more flour you use the longer the cooking process takes and it also means that you have to keep changing the oil so I would suggest keeping it light and cooking on medium in a non stick pan to avoid burning the oil.
Use a non metallic container for storing the fish. A glass hollow bowl or Pirax dish works best.

If you try this recipe please let me know by leaving a comment below! Be sure to follow on INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more simple and flavorful recipe inspiration!

If you love this Pickled Fish Recipe…..then you must try new and improved Turmeric version of this Traditional Traditional South African Pickled Fish

Recipe

Traditional South African Pickled Fish

Miranda | My Anosmic Kitchen

A spicy, slightly hot, delicious and traditional pickled fish recipe. To get the best taste from this pickled fish prepare it 2 to 3 days before serving.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 30

Total Time 50

Ingredients

FRYING THE FISH

1 kilo fish
oil (for frying the fish)
all purpose flour
4 eggs

DRY ROAST

1 fresh chili
4 bay leaves
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon peppercorns
1 teaspoon roughly chopped cloves

SPICES

1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon fish spice
1 teaspoon paprika
2 tbsps masala curry powder
1 teaspoon cumin spice
1 teaspoon salt

COOKING THE ONIONS

4 to 5 sliced onions
¾ cup canola oil
1 cup white wine vinegar
2 cups water
4 garlic cloves
thumb size piece of ginger

Instructions

Make sure the fish (if frozen) is completely defrosted and at room temperature before starting.
Add all the dry roast ingredients into a hot skillet for the flavors to be released. Watch closely to prevent burning. Set aside.
Have 2 slightly large wide plates, 1 for the flour and 1 for the egg. Using a pair of tongs dip your fish one at a time into the beaten egg and then into the flour and fry on medium heat. Continue till all the fish is done.
Once fried set the fish on top of kitchen towel paper to drain the oil.

COOKING THE ONIONS

Heat the oil in a fairly large pan and add in all the onions (or cook in parts) and cook on medium heat till nice and glossy.
Add crushed garlic and ginger, cook for a minute or 2 more.
Add all the spices and salt, mix.
Add the dry roast ingredients, vinegar and the 1st cup of water. Lower the heat to medium| low.
Simmer for about 15 minutes adding the 2nd cup of water slowly. (and a little more if needed)
Once cooled down, pour over the fish, allow to continue cooling even further before covering in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for minimum 24 hours before serving with fresh coriander.

Notes

Please taste the pickled fish as you go and adjust this recipe accordingly because each person has their own taste. For example, you might want to add a hint of sugar for sweetness or to balance out the acidity in the vinegar. So I would suggest that you taste as you go along.

You may also prefer your fish in a sealed container at room temperature and not in the fridge therefore this recipe is how we as a family like our pickled fish so please adjust according to your family.

Also, there are a load of onions in this recipe but that's how we like it with loads of onions. Besides, it tastes so good every single onion is eaten! Feel free to half the onion quantity.

Happy Easter!

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg

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