Pwason Fri (Haitian Fried Fish with Spicy Onion Sauce)
Local name: Pwason fri
In short: Whole Haitian fried fish marinated in lime and garlic, crisp-skinned, and topped with a sharp onion, pepper and vinegar sauce. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 500 kcal
Pwason fri is a whole fish fried until the skin crackles, then spooned with a sharp sauce of onions, peppers and lime. It is the kind of meal Haitians eat at beachside stands and at family lunches, usually with rice or plantains and a dish of pikliz. Red snapper is the classic choice, but any small whole fish works. The marinade needs only 30 minutes.
Instructions
- Cut three diagonal slashes into each side of the fish. Rub with the lime juice, garlic, salt, thyme and pepper, including inside the belly. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- Heat the 2 tablespoons of oil for the sauce in a skillet. Cook the onions and bell pepper for 5 minutes until just soft, then add the garlic and scotch bonnet for 1 minute.
- Add the vinegar, lime juice, water and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes until the onions are tender but still bright, then keep warm.
- Pat the fish very dry and dust lightly with the cornstarch on both sides.
- Heat the frying oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to 175°C (350°F). Fry two fish at a time for 5 to 6 minutes per side, until the skin is crisp and the flesh flakes easily at the thickest part (63°C / 145°F).
- Drain on paper towels. Serve the fish whole with the warm onion sauce spooned over, and rice or fried plantains on the side.
Tips
- Dry fish fries crisp, so pat it very dry after marinating. Let the oil come back to temperature before each batch.
- No whole fish? Use thick fillets of snapper or tilapia and fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side. The sauce also works on fried chicken.
Questions and answers
What fish is best for pwason fri?
Red snapper is traditional, but porgy, sea bream or tilapia all work. Choose small whole fish of about 400 g (14 oz) so they cook through before the skin burns.
Can I make the sauce ahead?
Yes. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge and tastes sharper as it stands. Warm it gently before serving.
How spicy is the sauce?
Medium. The seeded half scotch bonnet gives warmth. Add a whole pepper or pikliz on the side for more heat, or omit the pepper for a mild version.
How long does it take to make Pwason Fri (Haitian Fried Fish with Spicy Onion Sauce)?
About 1 h in total: 25 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pwason Fri (Haitian Fried Fish with Spicy Onion Sauce)?
About 500 kcal per serving, with 40 g of protein, 15 g of carbohydrates and 31 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 500 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 40 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 g |
| Fat | 31 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
