Pickled Fish Education

Pickled Fish and Hot Cross Buns are two traditional must-have Easter Foods here in South Africa. Last Easter I was privileged to taste South African Pickled Fish and I was determined this year to figure out how it was prepared. My friend Meagan's grandmother is PRECIOUS! She'll be 90 years old this year and was a great cook in her day (she only cooks on special occasions now). Knowing that Easter was around the corner, I asked Ma and Meagan's mother if I could watch them make the Pickled Fish and learn. They agreed and even said they'd prepare it in my kitchen so that we could have lots of room to move around. On Monday, I went to pick up the family with all their cooking supplies for this big event. We had a blessed time in the kitchen - cooking, laughing and having sweet talks.









I've been told Pickled Fish comes from religious history - It was said you should not work (hence cook) on Good Friday - due to religious respects; therefore families would cook the Good Friday and Easter meals days before. Pickled Fish needs a few days to be refrigerated and the sauces to merge with the fish - so it was perfect for the Easter traditions. Pickled Fish can be eaten on Good Friday or Easter Sunday, but it seems like the Friday feast is most popular here.

It's also connected with the Easter scripture in Luke 24 when Jesus Appears to the Disciples to prove His resurrection.

Luke 24
³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Our recipe was based of Hake and Yellow Tail fish. The ingredients are vast - lots of spices (bay leaves, curry powder, masala spice) thrown into a Brown Vinegar and water liquid base. Here's a link to just one version of this dish (includes pictures): http://www.africhef.com/Pickled-Fish-Recipe.html

My Pickled Fish education was definitely an Easter memory for LIFE! I'll let you know how it tastes once we celebrate on Friday!