Step Back in Time: Make Pickled Fish (Kerrievis) the Local Way

Hey there, it's me, Fatima Abrahams. I’ve been living in the Overberg, in Struisbaai since I was born, and the land is running deep in my veins.  I never want to be anywhere else in the world.  I remember the beautiful aromas coming from my mom’s kitchen and how there was always a lovely dish cooking on the wooden stove or cooling down on the windowsill.    Today I’m taking a trip down memory lane and want to teach you to make my mom's delicious Cape Malay pickled fish. It's a family treasure but I learnt to share it will make her memories last.

First, you'll need to get your hands on some fresh fish. Go down to the Struisbaai harbour early in the morning.  There are almost always fishermen that just came in from the sea, and the fish will be the freshest you’ll ever have.  Get a nice, firm fish like snoek, kabeljou, or geelstert.  Let the fisherman know you’re planning to make ‘’kerrievis’’ as they will call it in the local tongue.

Once you have your fish, you'll need to clean it and cut it into small pieces. Make sure you remove all the bones and scales.  Give it a quick flash fry in a sizzling pan until golden brown and glistening. Take it out, then turn the heat down and gently sauté onions until soft and sweet.

Now it's time to make the pickling sauce. In a large bowl, combine some apple cider vinegar (white vinegar is also good if you can’t lay your hands on apple cider), brown sugar, salt, and spices. I like to use a combination of cumin, turmeric, coriander, and chili powder, with a bit of allspice, Add a generous pinch of peppercorns, and a few dried bay leaves. Mix it all together until it forms a thick paste.   Simmer gently for a while.

Next, add the fish pieces to the bowl and stir to make sure they're coated in the pickling sauce. Cover and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least a day.

By lunch the next day, your pickled fish is ready to eat! Serve it with some fresh bread and butter or enjoy it on its own.

There you have it, my mom's delicious Cape Malay pickled fish.    Lekker eet!