- 500 grams of white fish, cleaned and diced
- 3 small spicy peppers or chili peppers
- 2 teaspoons of grated ginger
- 2 tomatoes
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 5 leaves of fresh basil
- ½ teaspoon of dried parsley
- 3 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons of oil
- ½ cup of tomato sauce
- ½ red onion
- ½ green sweet pepper
- ½ cup of wheat flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Frying oil
Wash and drain the fish. Season it with salt and pepper, and add the lemon juice. Let it marinate in this mixture while you prepare the other ingredients.
Slice the onion and peppers into julienne strips. Cut the tomatoes into small cubes. In a mortar, place the garlic, parsley, and basil leaves. Muddle them well and set aside.
In a plastic bag or a covered container, place the flour and add the fish you had set aside. Seal it well and gently shake it to coat the fish in flour. Remove the excess flour from each piece of fish and fry them in hot oil for 2 minutes, making sure they brown on all sides. Take them off the heat, let them drain on paper towels, and set them aside.
In a saucepan, heat three tablespoons of oil over low heat. Add the minced garlic and basil. Stir to ensure it browns evenly. Once the garlic turns golden, add the onion, tomatoes, peppers, and ginger. Stir again and mix the ingredients well. When these ingredients start to release their juices, add the tomato sauce.
Some people add a pinch of sugar to balance the acidity of the tomato, but in this dish, I don’t recommend it because the red onion is quite sweet.
Cover the pot and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes. Then, add the lightly fried fish cubes. Ensure they are coated with the sauce, but avoid stirring to prevent them from breaking apart. Allow them to simmer for 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and let them rest, covered, for about 10 minutes.
Serve the fish stew with white rice. If you have any sauce left over, don't throw it away; I recommend spreading it on bread, tostadas, or crackers.
This dish has an intense yet balanced flavor. To make it perfect, pair it with a cold beer or a glass of white wine.
Enjoy your meal!