AUNTIE RIE’S BAHAMIAN BOIL FISH
A Seaman’s breakfast for sure. Boil Fish is a signature dish for the regal archipealego we cal home – The Bahama Islands! Yes to all of our fellow Earthians The Bahamas is made up of over 700 islands, cays and rocks of all shapes and sizes. With oceans all around us it is no wonder we have mastered the preparation of seafood and enjoy it all hours of the day.
When Auntie Rie boil fish she selects the larger meatier fish such as: grouper or Hog Snapper but other smaller fish may be used. These are the white, flaky, tender and mild in flavor. Auntie Rie always has the fish man cut her “fish for boil” into 4-6oz pieces (you may keep the bone in or out). The other benefit with using the larger fish is that their bones are big, making it easy to pick them out as you eat. Caution should always be taken when eating fish, because bones may even be present in fillet.
Ingredients:
2 lb Grouper or Preferred Fish (6 med. Pieces)
1 med. Onion., sliced
1 med. Irish Potatoes
2 Hot pepper
2 Lemon/Lime &/or Sour Orange juice
Water
Salt to taste
1 Bay leaf
Preparation:
I remember many a Saturday morning when I would be helping Auntie Rie make breakfast. She would always say, “A clean fish gives a clean broth”. So I spent the time washing the fish, removing the scales and taking out the remnants of blood from around the bones. Then she told me to place the fish in a bowl of ice water while we prepared the other ingredients.
Remove fish from ice water and place in a 6-8 quart pot. Cover fish with onions, Crush 1 hot pepper and combine with limejuice then pour into pot. Add potatoes, bay leaf and water enough to cover fish and 1 teaspoon of salt to start (you may add more salt to taste later). Cook over medium heat until fish and onions are tender (approximately 20 minutes). Remember fish normally takes 15-20 minutes to cook depending on thickness. Your broth should have a tangy, lemony flavour and fish should be tender and firm. Serve 4-6 persons with a wedge of lemon and slice of hot pepper because some like it hotter!
Accompaniments: Saturday morning breakfast or anytime of the day on the island you cam find Boil Fish and Grits, Johnny Cake or Potato Bread.
Most of my American friends are astonished that we eat fish for breakfast, yet you cannot find a more nutritional, high protein, low-fat, high energy meal anywhere. So if a low-carbohydrate diet is your prescription then enjoy a bowl of Auntie Rie’s Bahamian Boil Fish.
