Pan-Fried Fish, Aruba Style

[JohnJT]

We've had one fish dish over the years at a particular restaurant. It was called pan-friend wahoo, Aruban style. A creole sauce was served on the side. I'm not sure if I should mention the restaurant. Last time we went there, they had no "wahoo"" and we were a little disappointed with the service and the meal.

This "pan-fried" fish is very different from any breaded, deep-fried fish you have experienced. I would say it is almost like a dry, pan broiling...no coating. There was something tangy and salty about the process. I think I read one recipe that said something like lime juice and salt were used, but I have looked for more definitive information.

Anyone else with information (if I making myself clear)?

[charlierat]

I have a childhood memory of eating a pan-fried fish dish. I can't tell you very much about it except that the fish was kind of broken into large chunks, not fillets. Not even sure what kind of fish it was, but wahoo certainly sounds possible. It could also have been pompano or bonito. I think all three are similar to tuna.

Anyway, I do recall that the fish was fried in an open skillet without any kind of breading or other batter. It also seems like potatoes were fried together with the fish (or in the same oil). Although it sounds like my memories are vague, it is actually a very strong memory and I have searched out the recipe for years, to no avail. The way you describe it as "tangy and salty" makes it sound like we might be talking about the same thing, although I do not recall creole sauce being served with it. That might just be because I was a kid and my parents may have thought that creole sauce would be too "bold" for my young palate. Or that could also just be a lapse in my memory.

Anyway, I do remember specifically who it was that cooked it. It was prepared by a woman named Juanita, who was originally from the island of Grenada. I have checked for recipes for Grenadan style fish, as well as Aruban style fish, but I have not found anything that sounds like what I used to love so much. So, if anyone can answer your question, they may end my search at the same time.

[charlierat]

Here's a post-script.

Have you seen this? This is the closest recipe I have ever found to what I remember but, to tell the truth, I have never attempted to prepare this myself. It looks really good and pretty easy:

Fried Fish (Pisca Hasa) with Pan Bati

Prepare and wash: 1/4 lbs. fish

Sprinkle: 1/4 tsp. salt
lime juice

and let the fish marinade for half an hour.
Slice into small pieces: 1/4 onion
1/2 tomato
1/6 green pepper
1/8 clove garlic

Heat in a pan:

1/2 Tbs. margarine
1/2 Tbs. oil

Fry the fish till it turns brown of color. To eliminate the fish odor add 1/2 a clove of garlic while frying. When done take out the fish and throw away the garlic clove but do not throw away the fat. Add to the pan with fat the chopped onion, garlic, tomato and green pepper and let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
Place the fish in the pan once again.

Mix: 2 Tbs. water
1/2 Tbs. vinager
1/2 tsp tomato paste

and add to the pan, leaving it for another 3-4 minutes on low fire.

Serve the fish with sauce in a platter.


Pan Bati

Mix in a bowl: 2 cups flour
1 cup corn flour
2 tbs baking powder
pinch of salt
sugar to taste

Add: 1 egg
1 3/4 cup milk
vanilla to taste

Batter the mixture until it becomes smooth (approx. 25 min) . If it is not smooth enough add a little water gradually until it smoothens. Like pancakes, put the mixture on a greased pan and turn the pan bati upside down when the downside is brown or dry.

Bon Probecho!



Aruba Facts - Community Matters - Local Cuisine - Pisca Hasa (Fried Fish) with Pan Bati

[JohnJT]

Charlie,
Thanks for the recipe.
Sounds good.
It does seem it has the things I'm describing.
John

[Arubaman]

Try this one out:

Fish Aruban Style

Ingredients
7oz fish fillet
4oz creole sauce
4oz mashed potatoes
salt
black pepper
lemon juice
garlic fresh
basil leaves
Creole Sauce
1lbs tomatoes julienne * Saute tomatoes, onions, carrots and green pepper until it gets
1lbs onions julienne crystal brown add fish bouillon, leave it to boil then add
1/4 lbs carrots julienne tomatoes paste, sugar and vinegar. leave it boil for 10-12 min.
1lbs green pepper cut up
11/2 liters fish bouillon
6oz tomatoes paste
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
* Seasoned fish with salt, black pepper, lemon and garlic, cook panfried.
* Put mashed potatoes in center of the plate top with the fish and covered with Creole sauce.

* Top with basil Leaves for decoration

[JohnJT]

Thanks, Arubaman!
It seems like a lot of the ingredients would go into the creole sauce (or what I call creole sauce).
In our experience, the fish looked like it was broiled, but the menu called it "pan-fried". At our request, any sauce was "on the side". If you did "no sauce", it was almost like a broiled fish.
In your recipe, it sounds like a lot of sauce for a relatively small amount of fish. The ingredients sound good...just a little confusion on my part about amounts and preparation.

[JohnJT]

Well, we're back from Aruba again on October 3rd.We went to Wacky Wahoo.We both had catch of the day (amberjack) prepared Aruban-style.Memory fades if this was as good as what we had years ago. It was topped with creole sauce. It was EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!We could not finish it all...because we each had a bowl of soup before the meal...fish soup and black bean soup. We brought the leftovers back to our timeshare for another meal.

[dwippies]

their black bean soup is probably the best on the island.

Originally Posted by JohnJT

Well, we're back from Aruba again on October 3rd.We went to Wacky Wahoo.We both had catch of the day (amberjack) prepared Aruban-style.Memory fades if this was as good as what we had years ago. It was topped with creole sauce. It was EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT!We could not finish it all...because we each had a bowl of soup before the meal...fish soup and black bean soup. We brought the leftovers back to our timeshare for another meal.

[aquarius]

We went to Wacky Wahoo also in August and we absolutely loved the fish and meal there. I believe I had the Mahi Mahi and it was great. They give you so much food for what you pay. Fish soup was excellent also. Will go back to this place again.

Marie

[Elaine S]

I love, love, love their black bean soup, but I always share it because it's so filling, and want room to eat the rest of my meal.

[ArubaMary]

Elaine, let's go to Wacky Wahoo as soon as we get to Aruba in 3 months 15 days.