5 Classic & Trendy Must-Try Seafood Dishes
1. South African Cape Malay Fish Curry
Cape Malay curries are notorious for their flavour combinations that carry a slight sweetness. Packed with a variety of seasonal vegetables, they taste milder in comparison to the curries used in an Indian kitchen. When preparing fish curries, it’s best to choose a fish with firm flesh that will hold together well when it’s stirred through the sauce. The powerful flavours from your spices will overpower the mild-flavoured dish in your curry. Good choices include Hake, Yellowtail or Swordfish.
A superb and tasty dish to order in a restaurant or to make at home.
Recipe suggestion: South African Cape Malay Fish Curry
2. Seafood Paella
Paella is a Valencian rice dish. On the Mediterranean coast Valencians used seafood to make paella. During the 20th century, paella’s popularity spread past Spain’s borders as other cultures set out to make this tasty dish. The bottom of a good paella should consist of crispy, golden brown rice that is slightly caramelised. When making paella, don’t be tempted to overload the paella with too many seafood ingredients as the rice should be the main focus. The seafood ingredients typically used in a paella can be: Prawns, Mussels, Calamari or Shrimp.
Order this next time you’re at a food market or make this for your friends next time you’re entertaining.
Recipe suggestion: Seafood Paella
3. Poke Bowl (with raw fish)
A traditional Hawaiian dish that contains raw pieces of fish that are organised into a deconstructed sushi dish. Think pieces of Salmon or Shrimp, brown rice, pineapple cubes, toasted seaweed, spring onions and sesame seeds all combined into one bowl. This type of dish is particularly high in lean protein from the fatty fish and fibre from whole grains, beans and vegetables. This one is a definite food trend in 2017 and will become very in demand, like sushi was many years ago.
Recipe suggestion: Salmon Poke Bowl
- Bouillabaisse
A traditional French seafood soup that means slow simmer. Recipes for bouillabaisse vary from family to family and local restaurants often differentiate on which versions are the most authentic. The distinct flavours of a bouillabaisse broth include saffron, orange zest and fennel. The most important element in this dish is that several varieties of very fresh firm fish are used such as Angelfish, Monk or Kingklip or the freshest catch of the day.
Try it next time you’re dining out or make your own from scratch.
- Low Carb Fish Tacos
Originating from Bajar-California (the northernmost state of Mexico), a fish taco is a traditional Mexican dish. The recipes for fish tacos have evolved and can include quick-cooking fish as a filling due to its lightness and tasty flavour. It’s important to use soft corn tacos (not flour tortillas or hard taco shells). Next time you’re in the mood for a healthy Mexican snack, try El Burro in Green Point, Cape Town or make your very own as a healthy weeknight meal.
Recipe suggestion: Low Carb Fish Tacos
