Barriga de Peixe (São Tomé Grilled Fish with Piri-Piri)
Local name: Barriga de peixe
In short: Thick fish steaks grilled with lime and garlic, then brushed with a fiery piri-piri sauce of chili, lemon and herbs. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 380 kcal
Barriga de peixe is grilled fish, served in São Tomé and Príncipe with rice, breadfruit or cassava and a fiery piri-piri sauce. The fish is seasoned simply with lime, garlic, salt and a little oil, then grilled quickly over high heat so it stays moist. The sauce does the rest: hot chilies, garlic, lemon and herbs stirred into oil. It is a simple way to cook the fresh tuna and other fish caught around the islands.
Instructions
- Rub the fish with the lime juice, garlic, salt and oil. Leave it for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- Make the sauce: mash the chilies, garlic and salt together in a bowl with the back of a spoon. Stir in the lemon juice, oil and parsley and let it stand while the fish marinates.
- Heat a grill or ridged grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the grates or pan with oil.
- Grill the fish for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until the outside is lightly charred and the center is opaque and flakes easily (63°C/145°F).
- Brush the hot fish generously with the piri-piri sauce and rest for 2 minutes. Serve with the rest of the sauce and cassava, plantain or rice.
Tips
- For the piri-piri, use 2 chilies for medium heat and 3 for hot. Deseed them for a milder sauce, and wear gloves while chopping.
- Do not move the fish for the first 2 minutes, so it releases from the grill by itself. The sauce keeps for 1 week in a jar in the fridge and is good on chicken and eggs too.
Questions and answers
What fish works best for barriga de peixe?
Firm, meaty fish that holds up on a grill: tuna, mahi-mahi, grouper, kingfish or swordfish. Thin fillets can stick and break.
Can I cook this without a grill?
Yes. Use a heavy ridged grill pan over high heat, or place the fish on an oiled tray under a very hot broiler for 4 to 5 minutes per side.
What do you serve with it?
Rice, boiled cassava, breadfruit or fried plantain, with a simple salad of tomato and onion.
How long does it take to make Barriga de Peixe (São Tomé Grilled Fish with Piri-Piri)?
About 30 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Barriga de Peixe (São Tomé Grilled Fish with Piri-Piri)?
About 380 kcal per serving, with 48 g of protein, 3 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 380 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 48 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 1150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
