I know I have said this so many times in the past hadi nawabo, but let me repeat once again: If I was to live on one kind of meat for the rest of my life, it would 100% be fish. Any kind of fish, be it inland caught or sea fish, it is always a guarantee that it will always taste so good! The variety also makes the eating experience so good too coz there is no getting bored with fish! I love my chicken, I love my lamb, I love my fish and I really love my pork, but fish is my best ever!
So to wrap up 2019, our final recipe of the year is my brilliant, very flavorful lime, coconut milk tilapia fillet! Perfect for weeknights and equally as perfect for when you have guests over!
I made a dope vid to accompany the blog post. Do watch below, and subscribe!
PREP TIME: 24 hrs (inclusive of marination)
COOK TIME: 35 min SERVES: 6
Ingredients
Marinate:
2kg of snapper
1 tablespoon soy sauce
6 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of thyme
1 tablespoon ginger powder
1/4 tablespoon of pepper
1 tablespoon of cumin
For the stew
1 red onion
5 cloves of garlic
2 tomatoes, minced
1 tablespoon of tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1 tablespoon of ginger spice
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1 1/2 cup of coconut milk
Zest of 2 limes
Juice of 2 limes
Dania for garnish
Method
Add all the marinate ingredients and slather them over the fish. Let this marinate for 1 hour before cooking. I have used snapper for this recipe, but tilapia fillets – which are much easier to get in Nairobi- would work perfect with this as well. I bought my snapper from city market Stall no.52, but you can also get some from CarreFour Fish Mongers or from TamTam Fresh.
I explained in the video (from 2.07-3.00 how to go about marinating fish with acidic elements and how to adjust for that so, watch and learn 🙂 .
Once marination is done, cut the fish into sizable pieces and proceed to sear the fish until cooked thorough and still juicy. You can deep fry if you want, but I prefer searing because of the beautiful char my fish gets.
Remember that you can use ANY FREAKING PAN, my love!!! You do not need my exact pan to make this. Any pan will get the searing done, which is pretty dope. If I go to my sisters’ and she does not have the exact pan I have at home, si I will use what she has at her place and the fish will still sear? Right? Good, glad we are on the same page on that.
It is your hands doing the cooking, and the technique is not dependent on a specific pan. That is part of the flexibility and versatility of cooking that I love so much!
The searing will take about 5-8 min, so DO NOT over do it – sijui 30 minutes- because we want the fish to remain super juicy and not dry.
Now that the fish is done, let’s start the sauce: First in, red onion and garlic. Cook these until softened and fragrant.
Then add the tomatoes, tomato paste and the spices. Mix them in and let them cook down for about 5 min. Then add the lime juice and the lime zest. Mix that in and then add the coconut milk.
Let this simmer on low heat for about 20 min. After the coconut milk is added, the tomato base will change from a deep red, to light orange, then once simmered and everything has come together, it will be a deep orange. You must simmer it for 20 minutes, do not rush it.
Once done, scoop out about a bowlful, add the seared fish, then slather the scooped out portion over it (watch from 10.34.10.47). I took a pic but it is tooooo blurry to upload, but the video will show you this step way better! Let this sit for about 2 min, then serve it up.
Honestly, there is no better way to wind up 2019 recipes than with this saucy, silky lime coconut milk snapper fillet!! It definitely tastes as it looks, and incase you think this pic is too good to be true, come over and watch the video and then see how easy it is to make gorgeous and delicious food!!
I love how the flavor of the lime went so well with that of the coconut milk. The coconut milk not only made the mchuzi alot more aromatic, but it’s rich flavor really elavated it! The garlic and ginger are not only warming, but they go so well with that of the cumin and coconut as well.
Ugali nayo imeiva! Unacome through saa ngapi?
Thank you for subscribing to my channel! Thank you so much for walking 2019 with me! It has been a delicious year and I am looking forward to creating more magic with you next year!
xx
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Hey there! My name is Kaluhi and I love food! Through my blog, I am happy to share with you my self-taught recipes, steeped in nostalgia and the happiest of memories. I hope each recipe you try out is as addictive as the previous one and is shared on a table full of love and hearty laughs!
Oh my word, this snapper looks amazing! Did you mention what you served it with, or did I miss it?
That marinade sounds amazing! I love the lime addition!
The flavors are truly divine!! Hope you give this a a shot!
The video showed that you used balsamic vinegar when marinating for an hour. It’s not included in the ingredients list. It’s a little confusing coz unless someone watches the video, they will not know. Is it a key ingredient in the marinade?
This looks like a recipe I can try today. I basically have all the ingredients in my refrigerator and pantry. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome! I hope you enjoy every single bite!
Lime and Coconut are such a delicious combo! This Snapper Fillet looks so good!
A combination that trully never fails!!
This looks so flavorful and delicious!
Indeed <3
You really had me at lime coconut because those are two of my favourite things ever! Never thought to put it on fish though! Delicious!
Coconut does really upgrade everything! Hope you try this out and get to enjoy the flavors of Kenya!
This snapper looks amazing!! Thank you for sharing!!!
xx
I need to incorporate more seafood into my diet! This gives me the perfect reason! Thank you.
You will definitely love this one!
It looks incredibly flavorful! I can’t wait to give it a try.
Cheers!
I love snapper but I have only had it fried. I would love to try it this way I bet it is Amazing!
You will fall inlove with it!!
This looks so delicious and perfect for my next dinner. 🙂
Awesome!!!!!
The snapper came out so perfectly, so deliciously, I am in love with this recipe!
So happy to know that Eden! Cheers to many more!
Such a great mid-week recipe!!
I agree! Quick but super tasty as well!
The fish looks yummy and will go well with ugali. Thanks for sharing this clear recipe. Awesome meal for an Omega-3 boost.
You are most welcome!
You didn’t mention how much balsamic vinegar you used in marinade
2 tablespoons (I dont measure to be honest I just eyeball everything)
I’m sorry, but I just followed you steps and it’s a mess, you never explain how to cut the fish, everything just doesn’t look good. It’s kinda step by step but during cooking I had so many questions what to do and how
You slice the fish across. Hold your knife over the fish, pass the knife through the fish (this process is called slicing), then repeat until it has been sliced. That’s how you cut.
What else do you want to know and what questions did you have? Also specify exactly what went wrong so that we solve it together.