Description
Brown Stew Fish is a flavorful Jamaican dish featuring whole snapper fish fried to golden perfection, then simmered in a rich, savory sauce made with bell peppers, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. This quick and delicious recipe delivers a delightful combination of crispy fish and a vibrant stew perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
Fish
- 1 pound Whole Snapper Fish (cleaned and sliced into 4 pieces)
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp All Purpose Seasoning
Vegetables & Herbs
- 1/2 small Onion (chopped or julienned)
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced or finely chopped)
- 1/4 Red Bell Pepper (chopped or julienned)
- 1/4 Yellow Bell Pepper (chopped or julienned)
- 1/2 small Tomato (chopped or julienned)
- 1/4 Scotch Bonnet Pepper (adjust to taste)
- 3 sprigs Fresh Thyme (roughly chopped)
- 2 stalk Escallion (green onion, finely chopped)
Liquids & Sauces
- 1 cup Neutral Cooking Oil (for frying)
- 1 tbsp Ketchup
- 1 tbsp Hoisin Sauce (or substitute: 1 tsp brown sugar and 1 tsp browning)
- 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/3 cup Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth or water)
Instructions
- Prep Fish: Check to ensure fish has been properly scaled, fins removed, and gutted. Thoroughly rinse with lemon or lime juice and cold water. Drain and pat dry with paper towels.
- Season Fish: Season both the outside and inner cavity of the fish pieces with salt, black pepper, and all purpose seasoning. Then set aside.
- Fry Fish: Heat neutral cooking oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish pieces and fry for about 5 minutes on each side until golden and crisp. Only flip when the fish can move freely in the pan, indicating a crisp exterior has formed. Remove fish and place on a wire rack to drain excess oil; set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables & Herbs: Discard most of the oil from the skillet, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Reduce heat to medium and add onion, garlic, bell peppers, tomato, escallion, thyme, and scotch bonnet pepper. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Make Sauce: Add ketchup, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and chicken broth to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer Fish in Sauce: Return the fried fish pieces to the skillet. Gently spoon the sauce over the fish. Increase heat to medium-high, cover the skillet, and let cook for 2-5 minutes to allow flavors to meld and fish to finish cooking.
- Finish & Serve: Uncover the skillet, spoon sauce over the fish again, remove from heat, and serve immediately. Enjoy your delicious brown stew fish!
Notes
- Use fresh whole snapper for authentic flavor and texture.
- Adjust the amount of scotch bonnet pepper to control the spice level.
- Substitute hoisin sauce with brown sugar and browning for a similar depth of flavor.
- Ensure fish is well dried before frying to achieve a crispy crust.
- Serve with rice and peas or fried dumplings for a complete Caribbean meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Jamaican
