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Melayu Cape Pickled Fish Recipe

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📁 African food

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South African special occasion dish, Melayu Cape or Cape Malay Pickled Fish gets its flavor from ten herbs and spices along with a 24-hour soak in a spicy curry brine.

Cape Malay Pickled Fish

A South African Easter dish, Cape Malay Pickled Fish gets its flavor from spices and a 24-hour soak in curried brine.
Cape Malay Pickled Fish Recipe

Ingredients:
2 pounds filleted yellowtail or any firm white fish
2 cups white-wine vinegar
1 cup water
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3 tablespoons ground curry powder
1 teaspoon ground paprika
1 teaspoon salt
5 whole black peppercorns
5 whole coriander seeds
4 large onions finely sliced
6 dried bay leaves
2 hot peppers
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

Fry fish in hot oil until cooked and drain on paper towel. Combine the vinegar, water, sugar, and spices in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the onions, cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes. 

Drain the pickling liquid into a clean saucepan and bring to the boil. Mix a little of the pickling liquid into the flour to form a thin paste, stir into the sauce and simmer lightly for two minutes to thicken slightly. 

Layer fish and the pickling mixture in a serving dish. Allow to cool then cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before serving. Serve with vegetables, rice and baked bread.

 Did you know? During Apartheid years, the Coloreds as Cape Malayan people were known as had a midpoint position between blacks and the whites in South African society. The current Cape Malay population is small, less than 300,000 people most of who are Muslim.


The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
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African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

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Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.