Jamaican Escovitch Fish

For those of us living away from our beloved islands, the holidays bring a particular kind of nostalgia, especially when it comes to food. There’s nothing quite like the vibrant, spicy kick of a good Jamaican Escovitch Fish paired with the soft, comforting texture of bammy to transport you straight back to Jamaica’s sunny shores. This Easter, bring a taste of the islands into your home with this inspired version of the classic dish.

Ingredients:

For the Fish:

2 pounds of whole red snapper (or any white fish), cleaned and scaled
Juice of 1 lime or lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ cup of vegetable oil, for frying
For the Escovitch Sauce:

1 medium carrot, julienned
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
½ red bell pepper, thinly sliced
½ yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
½ teaspoon of ginger, minced
1 Scotch bonnet pepper, pierced (or ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper)
¾ cup of malt vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon of sugar
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs of thyme
½ teaspoon of Jamaican allspice
Salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste

Preparations:

Prepare the Fish:

Rinse the fish and pat dry. Marinate it in lime or lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the fish until golden and crisp on both sides. Set aside.
Make the Escovitch Sauce:

In the same skillet, reduce the amount of oil, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Sauté garlic and ginger until fragrant.
Add the onions, bell peppers, carrot, and Scotch bonnet pepper. Cook until just tender.
Stir in the vinegar, sugar, bay leaf, thyme, allspice, salt, and pepper. Simmer for a few minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.

Assemble the Dish:

Pour the warm Escovitch sauce over the fried fish. Let it marinate for at least an hour (or overnight in the refrigerator for best results).

Serve with Bammy:

Prepare bammy according to its traditional recipe or buy pre-made bammy, lightly grill or toast it, and serve alongside your delightful Jamaican Escovitch fish.

This reimagined Escovitch Fish recipe brings a taste of the Caribbean right to your table, perfect for Easter or any special occasion that calls for a flavorful, memorable meal. Enjoy the process of creating this dish and the delightful journey of flavors it brings, reminiscent of the island’s sunny shores. For detailed steps, visit Immaculate Bites.