'Ota 'ika
As an island nation, fish, as well as other staples such as coconut, sweet potato, and cassava, play an important role in the island's cuisine. 'Ota Ika' - a well-known Tonga dish is frequently referred to as "Tongan ceviche," which is a fish marinated in citrus and coconut milk that is comparable to Latin American ceviches in certain aspects. It's a traditional recipe in which raw fish is marinated in lemon essence and coconut cream before being fried. To enhance flavour, it also has tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers, and onions. 'Ota Ika' is a delicious delicacy that you must try if you visit Tonga. The dish should be presented and enjoyed as soon as possible.
Ingredients:
1 kg fresh fish fillets, mullet or gurnard; 2 lemons, juice only; 3 small spring onions, chopped finely; 1 cucumber, seeds removed, chopped into bite-size pieces; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 1/2 green or yellow pepper, chopped; 1.5 cups
coconut cream; 1 cup of water
Instruction:
- Rinse the fish and cut it into cubes.
- Place in a shallow dish and cover with the lemon juice.
- Leave to marinate for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
- Drain off the lemon juice.
- Add the spring onions, cucumber, tomatoes, pepper, coconut cream and water.
- Season with pepper and mix well.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, cover and chill before serving.
Tips: The longer the fish is left to marinate the more the fish will cook.
