Enjoy a taste of African cuisine with this delightful "Poisson Capitaine au Four." This baked Captain Fish is marinated in a rich blend of spices and herbs that infuse deep flavors into its tender, delicate flesh. Served alongside traditional sides, this dish promises a flavorful culinary journey.
Ingredients
🐟 800g Captain Fish 4 medium-sized fish
🧄 4-5 cloves garlic, peeled
🌿 1 tablespoon dried basil
🌰 4 grains Djansan/Akpi African nutmeg/seeds
🌶️ 1/4 teaspoon whole white peppercorns
🧊 2 bouillon cubes
🧂 Generous amount of salt
🥕 1 whole onion, peeled and roughly chopped
🍃 Approximately a 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled
🛢️ 2 tablespoons cooking oil
Instructions
1- Clean the Fish:
- Clean the Captain Fish thoroughly.
- Remove the guts.
- Make several diagonal incisions on both sides of each fish.
2- Rub with Salt:
- Generously rub salt all over the fish.
- Ensure it seeps into the incisions and cavity.
- Set aside.
3- Grind Spices:
- Use the traditional grinding stone to finely grind the Djansan/Akpi grains and white peppercorns into a coarse powder.
- Transfer the ground spices into a small bowl.
4- Blend Ingredients:
- In the hand blender's chopper attachment, combine garlic, ginger, onion, dried basil, and the freshly ground spices.
- Add a little water or cooking oil to help blend into a smooth paste.
- Blend until a consistent mixture is achieved.
5- Prepare Spice Paste:
- Transfer the spice paste into a bowl.
- Crumble the bouillon cubes into it.
- Mix well with the cooking oil.
6- Prepare Baking Dish:
- Place the salted fish into the glass baking dish.
7- Apply Marinade:
- Generously apply the spice marinade over each fish.
- Fill the incisions and body cavities thoroughly.
8- Preheat and Bake:
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F).
- Bake the marinated fish in the oven for 35 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Prep Time: 10-15 minutes (active)
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45-50 minutes
Servings: 4
Equipment:
- 🥣 Blue plastic mixing bowl
- 🔪 Kitchen knife
- 🔪 Green plastic cutting board
- 🍽️ Colorful striped plates
- 🌰 Traditional grinding stone (Meule)
- 🔨 Small pestle
- 🔌 Philips 700 W hand blender with chopper attachment
- 🍲 Rectangular glass baking dish
- 🔥 Oven
Cooking Tips:
- Marinate the fish overnight for enhanced flavor.
- Freshly ground spices offer better flavor; avoid pre-ground spices for optimal taste.
- Captain Fish's delicate white flesh cooks quickly, making it an ideal choice for baking.
#hashtags: #bakedfish #africancuisine #captainfish #traditionalrecipe #flavorful
Armelle Délices: https://www.youtube.com/@armelledelices