Fried Fish Island Style Food

CRISPY PAN FRIED FISH

Steps:

• Use scrunched up paper towels to pat the fish dry on both sides. This is especially important if you are using thawed frozen fish.
• Season the fish well on both sides with salt and pepper (key!).
• Mix the flour and paprika on a plate.
• Coat fish on both sides with flour, pressing down firmly so it adheres, but shake well to remove excess. (Note 2)
• Heat a heavy based skillet (normal or non stick) over medium high heat until you see wisps of smoke. Add oil and swirl to coat the pan - it will heat within seconds.
• Add fish - it should sizzle straight away. Shake the pan lightly to move the fish. Cook for 2 minutes until golden and crisp, pressing down gently, then flip. Cook the other side for 2 minutes until crisp then remove.
• If it's browning too quickly, just remove pan from the stove briefly. If it's stuck, don't move - it will release naturally once golden.
• Serve fish immediately with lemon wedges and garnished with dill or parsley, if using. It starts to lose crispiness after 5 minutes.

FISH FRY

Steps:

• Pour 2-inches of vegetable oil into a large skillet. Place skillet over large burner and heat oil over medium high heat. To check if the oil is hot enough, drop in 1-inch cube of white bread. The bread should brown in a 40 count.
• Cut cod into 4 servings, 6 to 8-ounce portions and season with salt and pepper. Place a couple of scoops of flour in a pie tin. Combine egg and water in second tin. Season plain bread crumbs and mustard and cayenne in the third tin. Coat fish in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs. Gently set coated fish into hot oil and fry 5 minutes on each side until medium golden brown in color.
• When the fish is evenly golden all over, remove and drain on brown paper sacks.
• Suggested: 3 disposable pie tins .

FRIED FISH

Steps:

• Combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, Old Bay, salt, and pepper. Add beer and stir. Let rest for 10 minutes. Dredge fish through mixture.
• Preheat a deep-fryer or a deep pot filled halfway with oil to 350 degrees F. Gently immerse the fish in the oil, making sure it is fully submerged and deep-fry until it is golden brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes, turning to ensure even browning.

PACIFIC ISLAND FISH IN COCONUT SAUCE

Steps:

• To Make the Sauce: In a small saucepan mix coconut cream, onion, salt, chilli, lemon juice, and the cornstarch (mixed to a paste with a little of the cold coconut cream).
• Bring the mixture to a boiling point, stirring all the time.
• Do not allow sauce to boil hard as it will become lumpy.
• Simmer for 3 minutes, then remove from the heat.
• Dip pieces of fish in flour seasoned with salt and pepper.
• Brown lightly in hot oil.
• Place the fish in a casserole dish and pour the sauce over the top.
• Garnish with slices of tomato.
• Bake at 300F degrees for 20 minutes.

DEEP FRIED FISH

Steps:

• Half-fill a deep pan with melted fat or oil. Heat until a faint haze rises from it (or until a bread cube sinks to the bottom of the pan, rises to the top immediately and turns golden in 50 seconds).
• Sift the flour and salt into a bowl.
• Beat to a smooth batter, unbeaten egg, butter and milk. Then add the flour and salt mixture.
• Coat 2 pieces of fish with batter.
• Lift into the pan with a fork or kitchen tongs.
• Fry until crisp and golden, allowing about 6-8 minutes for large pieces and 4-5 minutes for medium.
• Remove from the pan and drain on absorbent kitchen paper.
• Repeat with the remaining fish.
• Garnish with lemon wedges.

FISH AND FUNGI VIRGIN ISLANDS STYLE

Steps:

• Place fish with all ingredients into a saucepan and cook gently until fish is cooked, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Place frozen okra in boiling water. Cook until just barely tender.
• In a medium size saucepan, bring 2½ cups water to a boil.
• To make fungi that is free of lumps, mix about ¼ cup of the cornmeal with ¾ cup water in a separate small bowl. Then, add this mixture back into the larger pot of boiling water.
• Let cornmeal cook for about a minute, then add the rest of the cornmeal into the pan in a slow steady stream, while stirring constantly.
• Add hot cooked okra to cooked cornmeal. Stir well.
• Then, stir in the butter, salt and pepper, to taste.
• Simmer for about 5 minutes more.