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Pwason gwo sèl
Fish poached in lime broth
Pwason gwo sèl: whole fish poached in a lime and coarse-salt broth
Fishing villages on Haiti's southern coast make pwason gwo sèl, "big-salt fish", when the catch is fresh: whole snapper rubbed with lime and coarse salt, then gently poached in a peppery broth with onion, peppers, thyme and a whole scotch bonnet. The fish stays moist and clean-tasting, and the light broth is spooned over boiled plantain or rice. The common mistake is boiling it hard, which breaks the flesh; keep it at a gentle shiver. Ask for the fish scaled and gutted. Chef's tip: slash the fish twice on each side and push epis into the cuts so the flavour reaches the bone.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 whole red snapperabout 600 g each, scaled and gutted
- 2 limes1 juiced, 1 cut into wedges
- 1 tbsp coarse sea salt
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionsliced
- 1 green peppersliced
- 2 cloves garlicsliced
- 4 sprigs thyme
- 1 scotch bonnet pepperwhole
- 2 ½ cups water
- 2 tbsp parsleychopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Slash 2 whole red snapper twice on each side. Rub inside and out with 1 limes juice and ½ tbsp coarse sea salt, then push 2 tbsp Haitian epis (green seasoning) into the cuts. Leave in the fridge for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 2: Warm 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan big enough for the fish and soften 1 onion, 1 green pepper and 2 cloves garlic for 3 minutes.
3 minStep 3: Add 2 ½ cups water, 4 sprigs thyme, 1 scotch bonnet pepper and the rest of ½ tbsp coarse sea salt and bring to a simmer.
3 minStep 4: Lay in the fish, spoon the broth over, cover and poach at a gentle simmer for 12–15 minutes, turning once carefully, until the flesh by the bone is opaque and flakes easily.
15 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 260 kcal
- Protein
- 42 g
- Carbs
- 7 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pwason gwo sèl take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of limes?
- Lemon, same amount.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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