RECIPE: Chef Zanele Van Zyl’s pickled fish

Easter time is synonymous with fried fish, curry and warm cinnamon hot-cross buns. Mzansi is known for its lekke Cape Malay curry-soaked fried fish, but we’re in the middle of a nationwide lockdown and can’t travel home for mom’s pickled fish.  

Celebrity chef Zanele Van Zyl has got us covered with her family’s pickled fish recipe. Not only will this recipe tickle your Easter taste buds with every bite, it promises the comfort of home.  

Easter Lockdown: Here’s what we will be missing

Ingredients: 

• 500g hake 
• 1/4 cup flour 
• Salt and pepper to taste 
• 2 large onions, sliced into rings 

• 1 teaspoon garlic 
• 1 teaspoon ginger
   
• 1 tablespoon peppercorns 
• 1 tablespoon cardamom 
• 3 – 4 red chilli 

• 3 – 4 bay leaves 
• 2 tablespoons sugar 
• 1/4 cup white vinegar 
• 1 teaspoon curry powder 
• 1 teaspoon turmeric 

• 1 teaspoon cumin 
• 1 teaspoon white pepper 
• 1/4 cup lemon juice 
• Zest of 1 lemon 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

• 3 sprigs thyme  

 Method: 

1. In a large bowl, combine salt and pepper with the flour and use to coat the fish. 
2. Heat oil and fry fish for 2 – 5 minutes on each side depending on thickness of fish (do not overcook). 
3. Clean the same pan and heat oil and fry the onion rings, ginger and garlic.  
4. Remove from pan and set aside. 
5. Add peppercorns, cardamom, chilli, bay leaves, sugar and vinegar and cook to dissolve sugar. 
6. Add curry, turmeric, cumin and white pepper and combine. 
7. Then add remaining ingredients and cook 5 minutes. 
8. Return the onion and fish to the pan and mix to coat all the fish. 
9. Transfer into a dish and cover. 

Easter Lockdown: Here’s what we will be missing