Cape Malay Pickled Fish

4.7
(11)
9 Reviews
7 Photos

Pickled fish made with cod and a delicious pickling mixture made with red wine vinegar, brown sugar, chili pepper, garlic, and lots of spices. This dish is traditionally served with hot cross buns or freshly baked bread for Easter in Cape Town, South Africa.

Submitted by NITSCKIE
Updated on November 15, 2024
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
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an overhead view of pickled fish on a white plate.
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Prep Time:
30 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
1 day 30 mins
Total Time:
1 day 1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
12
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • ½ cup vegetable oil for frying

  • 3 pounds cod fillets, cut into 2 to 3 ounce portions

  • salt to taste

  • 2 large onions, peeled and sliced into rings

  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped

  • 1 red chile pepper, seeded and sliced lengthwise

  • 3 large bay leaves

  • 8 whole black peppercorns

  • 4 whole allspice berries

  • 2 cups red wine vinegar

  • ½ cup water

  • ½ cup packed brown sugar, or to taste

  • 2 tablespoons curry powder

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin

  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander

  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    all ingredients gathered to make pickled fish.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season fish with salt and fry in the hot skillet until fish is browned and flakes easily with a fork, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

    fish seasoned with salt and browned in a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Add onions and garlic to the skillet and cook over medium heat until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add chile pepper, bay leaves, peppercorns, and allspice berries, then pour in vinegar and water and bring to a boil. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Season with curry powder, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Taste and add brown sugar if desired.

    an overhead view of onions and seasonings for pickled fish simmering in a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Arrange layers of fish and pickling mixture in a serving dish. Pour in pickling liquid to cover the top layer. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving.

    mixtures layered in a baking dish, allowing to cool before serving.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
30 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

238 Calories
10g Fat
16g Carbs
21g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 238
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 10g 13%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 49mg 16%
Sodium 67mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 21g 42%
Vitamin C 3mg 4%
Calcium 44mg 3%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 590mg 13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.