CiberCuba Cocina
Hake Fillets with Sofrito | Photo © CiberCuba Cocina

Hake Fillet with Sofrito

Cooking, Main dish

Kitchen, Main dish

Preparation Time:
30
Note:
Although no one on the Island remembers it anymore, Hake was the queen of Cuban dining tables for a long time. There are many recipes dedicated to this fish that were published in Revista Bohemia and in the television program Cocina al Minuto. I prepared this recipe while recalling the tricks I learned watching TV with my mother and grandmother on Sundays. I hope you enjoy the Hake Fillet with sofrito. It's true that it's not a native Cuban fish, but this time it will have a distinctly Creole flavor.
Ingredients:
  • 400 grams of fish fillet (hake)
  • ½ cup of whole wheat flour
  • ½ cup of sunflower oil
  • 1 lemon
  • ½ onion
  • 20 grams of fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • ½ cup of tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:

Season the hake fillets with salt and pepper, and add the juice of one lemon. Set them aside while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Hake Fillet with salt, pepper, and lemon / CiberCuba Kitchen

Finely chop the peppers, onion, garlic, and ginger into a small brunoise, either by hand or using a food processor.

In a pan, heat the oil and add the processed seasonings to make a sofrito. Once they start to release their aromas and juices, add the tomato sauce and sprinkle in the sugar. Stir well and let it simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes. If you notice the sauce thickening too much, you can add a little water to reach your desired consistency. Before removing from the heat, adjust the salt to your liking, cover it, and set aside for plating.

Sofrito in the Pan / CiberCuba Kitchen

Coat the fish fillets in whole wheat flour and fry them in a pan. They should cook for about 3 minutes on each side. You'll achieve a golden color and a texture similar to that of being dipped in breadcrumbs and egg, but it's much lighter, more economical, quicker, and less harmful.

Hake Fillets with Whole Wheat Flour / CiberCuba Cooking

After frying the hake fillets, let them drain on absorbent paper.

Hake fillets on a delicious sofrito / CiberCuba Cocina

To serve each portion, first place a generous spoonful of the sauce or sofrito, then lay the fillets on top, and accompany the dish with white rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables.

Enjoy your meal!

Rations:
4