Firire (Senegalese Fried Fish with Sauce)
Firire is a dish loved by most Senegalese people. It is usually eaten as dinner and can be served with bread or fresh green salad.
Whole fish, cleaned
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon vinegar
Chile powder
Ground red pepper to taste
1 medium-sized (250 g) onion, chopped
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
½ green pepper, sliced along its length
Lettuce
1 medium-sized cucumber, peeled and sliced
Plantain, peeled and sliced
2 medium-sized cherry tomatoes
Wash the fish very well and make slashes along the body.
Combine the garlic, mustard, vinegar, chile powder, red pepper, onions, and a pinch of salt. Rub on the fish, and leave to marinate for 15 minutes.
15 minutes
Scrape the onions off the fish, and reserve them.
Heat the oil in a pan over moderate heat. Add the fish, and fry on both sides until browned. Remove and set aside.
Add the marinated onions to the pan. Fry until browned, stirring every 2â3 minutes.
2â3 minutes
Stir in the green pepper. Reduce the heat to medium, and cook for about 7 minutes. Set aside this sauce.
7 minutes
Combine a dash of vinegar, oil, and mustard to make a dressing. Toss the dressing with the lettuce and cucumber. Set aside
Fry the plantain, and season with salt to taste.
Arrange the salad in a dish, and place the fish in the center. Garnish with tomatoes and plantains. Serve with the reserved sauce.
- â˘You can enjoy the firire with bread instead of plantains. It is also excellent with mayonnaise.