Flying Fish Cutter (Bajan Fried Fish Sandwich)
Local name: Flying fish cutter
In short: Barbadian fried flying fish sandwich in a soft salt bread roll, with a crisp cornmeal crust, lettuce, tomato, cheese and pepper sauce. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 570 kcal
A cutter is the Barbadian sandwich: a soft salt bread roll filled with something hot. The most famous filling is fried flying fish, seasoned with lime and herbs, crisp from a cornmeal crust, and topped with lettuce, tomato, a slice of cheese and a dab of pepper sauce. Cutters are eaten at beach stands, as quick lunches and as late snacks. Any thin white fish fillet works if you cannot find flying fish.
Instructions
- Toss the fish with the lime juice, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper and hot sauce. Leave for 20 minutes in the fridge.
- Put the beaten egg in a shallow dish. Mix the flour, cornmeal and salt in another.
- Heat the oil in a wide skillet to 175°C (350°F). Pat the fish dry, dip each fillet in egg, then press into the flour mixture to coat both sides.
- Fry the fillets in two batches for 2 minutes per side, until deep golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
- Warm the rolls briefly in the oven or on a dry pan. Spread the inside with pepper sauce and a little mustard.
- Fill each roll with lettuce, tomato, a slice of cheese and 2 fillets. Serve at once while the fish is crisp.
Tips
- For a lighter cutter, bake the coated fish on an oiled tray at 220°C (425°F) for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once.
- Flying fish fillets are small and fragile, so handle them gently and fry in a single layer. Fillets of thin white fish can be cut to fit the rolls.
Questions and answers
What is a Bajan cutter?
A cutter is a sandwich on a soft salt bread roll. Popular fillings include fried flying fish, cheese, ham, fish cakes and egg, usually with pepper sauce.
What can I use instead of flying fish?
Any thin white fillet works, such as sole, flounder, tilapia or mahi-mahi. Cut it into pieces roughly the size of the roll.
Can I prepare the fish ahead?
You can season the fish the night before, but coat and fry it just before serving. Fried fish loses its crunch within about 15 minutes.
How long does it take to make Flying Fish Cutter (Bajan Fried Fish Sandwich)?
About 35 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Flying Fish Cutter (Bajan Fried Fish Sandwich)?
About 570 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 62 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 570 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 62 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
