Smoked Panla fish stew

Dobby

10 years ago

Smoked Panla fish stew is one of the most affordable Nigerian stews to make. This is also because the panla fish is one of the cheapest fish sold in the local Nigerian market. This fish is a typical example of small but mighty. I’m not going to exaggerate but when it comes to taste, this fish tastes far better than most smoked fish you’ve ever eaten. Where i stay, the vendors usually walk around carrying this fish in baskets on their heads so most times, i usually go on the lookout for them. Panla stew is one of the various types of bukka stews to make at home and it goes well with just about anything from Boiled rice to yam porridge or even some Nigerian soups such as egusi soup or plain okra soup.

Ingredients:::

• 6 medium sized Tomatoes

• 3 Red bell pepper “Tatashey”- Optional

• 7 medium sized Chili pepper “Shombo”

• 3 Red Scotch Bonnet “Ata Rodo”

• 1 medium sized Red onion

• 5 Smoked panla fish

• 2 tsp. Cray fish

• 1 cup Palm Oil

• 2 Seasoning Cubes

• Salt to taste

• 4 Scent leaves – Optional

Directions:::

Step 1: Wash and blend the Tomatoes, Red bell pepper, Chili pepper, Red Scotch Bonnet, Red onion together till smooth. Pour the blend in a pot and boil till all the liquid evaporates leaving the tomato and pepper concentrate.

Step 2: Smoked panla fish is ready to eat even without cooking further. Due to the smoking, most of the inner parts which are usually removed in fresh fish ends up being cooked. This makes it easier to clean. all you have to do is to gut the smoked fish by opening it up from the middle and removing the cooked stomach parts and the bone (Optional). Once removed, rinse the fish and place in a small pot. Add chopped onion, salt and a little bit of water. Steam the fish for 5 mins. the flavor from the smoked fish stock is something you’d really not want to miss

Step 3: The next step is to bleach the palm oil. To bleach, pour the palm oil in an empty dry pot, cover with the lid and heat up on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Pour the tomato and pepper paste into the bleached oil, add the seasoning cubes, salt to taste, Crayfish, steamed smoked fish including the stock. Cover the pot and leave to cook for about 15 minutes. Click Here to watch the process

Step 4: Turn off the burner and serve. this stew can be served with boiled rice, yam, potato, plantain or even combined with Egusi or Plain okra soup and served with swallow.