Fried fish in homemade tomato sauce is a very easy and quick recipe to make when you have no time or want to spend more time with your family. All you need is a deep fried fish from your local market and a few other ingredients and your lunch or dinner is ready within no time. I make this recipe for my family almost every week and they cannot get enough of it. Fish is a delicacy among many communities in Kenya and a good dish made with fish is always a comfort food for many people. The recommended fish for this recipe is tilapia.
How do you cook fish?
When I started cooking fish from the scratch, I was so afraid that I wasn’t going cook properly. It was such a daunting task but this doesn’t have to be the case especially when cooking fresh fish. There are several ways of cooking fresh fish.
- Deep frying. This is frying fish in hot oil. Prepare the fish by washing and removing the scales and cleaning the inside. Make several cut marks on both sides of the fish then rub all over with salt. Heat about 2 inches of oil in a deep frying pan or a deep frier. When the oil is hot, put the tilapia and let it cook on both sides for about 6-8 minutes. The fish should be golden brown and should flake when tested with a fork. Drain the excess oil from the fish by placing on a paper towel.
- Baking. This is one of the best method of cooking fresh fish. It uses less oil and help to preserve the nutrients. Additionally, when baking fish, you can enhance the flavor by adding spices. However baking takes longer than frying, about 18-20 minutes. Wash the fish and pat dry inside and out. Score and brush with cooking oil on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and lemon juice. You can also sprinkle with other spices if you want then place on a prepared baking tray then bake for about 18-20 minutes on a temperature of about 470°F (240°C).
- Sautéing. This is shallow-frying the fish with an oiled pan. It is another way of quickly and easily cooking the fish without added fat associated with deep-frying. Wash the fish and pat dry with a paper towel. Score and rub with salt on both sides and set aside for about 10 minutes for the salt to drain the excess water, if any. Heat the pan on medium-high heat then add oil ensuring that the oil is coated throughout the pan to prevent the fish from sticking to the pan. Pat the fish dry again and place it on the pan in one motion without moving it. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook on one side for 6 minutes then turn and cook the other side. Keep monitoring the heat as you fry to ensure that the fish cooks inside without burning.
- Grilling. This is also another healthy way of cooking fish. Grilling works better with whole fish than fillets. When grilling, ensure that the grills are non-stick or coat them with some oil. Wash the fish and pat dry, Score and salt the fish on both side. Spice generously with your preferred spices. Grill for a bout 5 minutes on each side at 230°C.
- Poaching. This is cooking fish in a simmering liquid on a stove. The liquid can be water, broth or wine. The best thing about poaching fish is that it does not add extra calories or fat. Score the fish and apply spices and salt all over the fish. Saute dried canned tomatoes or cherry tomatoes cut into halves. Once the tomatoes are soft but not fully cooked, add stock, water or wine. Let it boil for a few minutes then throw in your fish. cook the fish for for 5 -8 minutes or until ready.
How to make delicious fried fish in homemade tomato sauce
This fish dish is the best dish that you will ever eat. I make this atleast every month. To make this recipe, you will need either pre-fried fish or raw fish. If you opt for raw fish, you will have to fry it first. This recipe is done using homemade tomato sauce so you will require more tomatoes; and if you love red bell pepper, include it when making the tomato sauce. Here is how you make fried fish in homemade tomato sauce:
Ingredients:
- 1 Fish fried
- 4 Tomatoes medium size
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 piece Ginger small piece
- 1 piece Onion Large size
- 1 tsp Paprika powder
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Chilli powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 piece Parsley chopped
- Cooking oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions:
- Garnish the fried fish on both side with the lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes as you prepare the other ingredients.
- Wash and chop the tomatoes and onion into medium sizes. Prepare the garlic and ginger.
- Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until a smooth liquid mixture.
- In a pot, pour the tomato mixture, cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minute then add salt and the spices (paprika, turmeric, chilli and black pepper). Cover and cook for another 5 minutes until the mixture thickens and no longer has a tangy taste.
- Scoop about a half of the tomato sauce into a bowl and put the fried fish into the remaining sauce then pour back the scooped sauce on top of the fish. Cover and cook over low to medium heat for 3 minutes. Turn the fish and cook for another 3 minutes.
- Remove and garnish with finely chopped parsley and service with your preferred accompaniments.
Delicious fried fish in homemade tomato sauce
Fried fish in homemade tomato sauce is a very easy and quick recipe to make when you have no time or want to spend more time with your family. All you need is a deep fried fish from your local market and a few other ingredients and your lunch or dinner is ready within no time. I make this recipe for my family almost every week and they cannot get enough of it.
Share on FacebookIngredients
- 1 Fish fried
- 4 Tomatoes medium size
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 piece Ginger small piece
- 1 piece Onion Large size
- 1 tsp Paprika powder
- ½ tsp Turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Chilli powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 piece Parsley chopped
- Cooking oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
Step 1: Garnish
- Garnish the fried fish on both side with the lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes as you prepare the other ingredients.
Step 2: Chop and Blend
- Wash and chop the tomatoes and onion into medium sizes. Prepare the garlic and ginger.
- Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend until a smooth liquid mixture.
Step 3: Make Tomato sauce
- In a pot, pour the tomato mixture, cover and cook over medium heat for 10 minute then add salt and the spices (paprika, turmeric, chilli and black pepper). Cover and cook for another 5 minutes until the mixture thickens and no longer has a tangy taste.
Step 4: Cook the Fish
- Scoop about a half of the tomato sauce into a bowl and put the fried fish into the remaining sauce then pour back the scooped sauce on top of the fish. Cover and cook over low to medium heat for 3 minutes. Turn the fish and cook for another 3 minutes. remove and garnish with finely chopped parsley and service with your preferred accompaniments.
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