Category Archives: Seafood
Crispy Fish Batter
Salwaa’s Crispy Fish Batter
Fish and chips taste so much better when you make it yourself from scratch and if you follow my recipe below you’ll get perfectly fried fish every time! You can use my recipe for snoek, hake, cod or even prawn. You can also follow my youtube video, link below, for easy reference.

Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
You can use any fish of choice like snoek, hake, cod etc. I prefer using cod cut into small pieces.
For the batter:
1 cup plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 TBSP brown vinegar
1/2 tsp black pepper / cayenne
1/2 tsp chilli powder (optional)
1/2 cup soda water or more
Mix together into a batter, the mixture should not be runny.
Season fish lightly with salt and dust slightly with extra flour.
Dip the fish, both sides into the batter, you can repeat the dipping for a thicker batter and shallow / deep fry for a few minutes aside until light brown and crispy. Remove the fried fish gently from the oil and drain on paper towel.
Serve with chips, tartar sauce, lemon atchar, pickled onions or a squeeze of lemon juice. Alternative sprinkle the fish liberally with brown vinegar and salt.
You’ll find my tartar recipe below.

Salwaa’s Homemade Tartar Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1 pickled gherkin finely chopped
1 tsp finely chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl and serve with any fish, prawns, calamari etc…
Enjoy!

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Tin Fish – Pilchards Curry
Salwaa’s Tin Fish – Pilchards Curry

Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
1 tin of pilchard tin fish separate the tomato sauce from the fish and remove bones gently without breaking fish to much
Braise a small chopped onion in a little oil.
Add: 1/2 finely chopped capsicum / green pepper
2 cloves of grated garlic
3-4 finely chopped green chillies or to taste
At this stage I added a few baby potatoes and cook it for about 10 minutes add drops of water as needed.
Add:
Salt to taste
1 tsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp cumin
Cook for a further 10 minutes and 1/2 of the tomato sauce with drops of water as needed.
If potatoes are soft add the fish and gently shake the pot side to side.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and a squeeze of fresh lemon
Serve with plain boiled rice and lemon atchar.
Enjoy!
Seafood Akhni

Seafood Akhni
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
Ingredients:
1kg seafood
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 finely chopped tomatoes
50g butter or margarine
5 large whole fresh green chilli, slit open. You may use more or less, depending on your taste
1 Tbsp finely chopped or grated garlic
1 tsp finely chopped or grated ginger
1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
2 tsp salt, to taste
1 Tbsp red leaf masala/roasted masala
2 tsp seafood / fish masala mix*** see note
1 tsp chilli powder or chilli flakes
1 heaped tsp ground cumin
1 heaped tsp ground coriander
1 heaped tsp turmeric
3 cups of basmati rice or long grain white rice
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 bay leaves
3 cardamom pods
2 pieces of stick cinnamon
3 all-spices
3 cloves
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/2 cup of plain yoghurt, Greek yoghurt
Method:
Cook rice 3/4 finish and put aside.
Warm a pot on the stove. Add butter and oil. Braise the onions with the whole spices and garlic. Add the dry spices, the tomatoes, lemon juice and cook for about 15 minutes before adding a cup of water and the yoghurt. Stir through.
Add rice and mix well. Layer seafood on top of rice add another 1/2 to 1 cup of water, depending what kind of rice you using. I always use basmati or a long grain white rice for akhnis or breyanis.
Dot with butter and sprinkle a good handful of freshly chopped coriander leaves. Cover with lid. Cook on high for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off, leave covered for a further 5 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
I cooked this akhni over the BBQ coals outside. The exact same method can be use to cook on the stove top.
Find my fish masala recipe here ➡️ https://capemalaycookingdelights.com/category/seafood/

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Seafood Curry

Here we are making a delicious seafood curry. Quick and easy to make! Hope you’re going to make it soon and do let me know what you think of my recipe.
Serve with white boiled rice or roti.
Ingredients:
1 kg mixed seafood
500g fish, any firmed flesh fish will do
Oil, mustard oil goes well with fish
Mustard seeds
Stick cinnamon
Cardamom
Curry leaves
2 large onions
4 large tomatoes
Ginger
Garlic
Chillies
Roasted masala
Fish masala, see my recipe below
Coriander
Cumin
Tamarind
Coconut milk
Follow my recipe and method below for best results.
Salwaa’s Homemade Fish Masala Blend
Use for fish curries, seafood curries, paellas, fish or seafood breyanis or akhnis as well as a rub for fried fish or braais. Double or triple the recipe if you like but small batches in my opinion is better to maintain freshness
2 tsp coriander powder
2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp chilli flakes
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
Mix well and store in a airtight container. For a better more flavourful spice mix use fresh whole spices instead. Slightly roast the whole spices and pound it using a pestle and mortar or a grinder until fine.
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Pickled Fish
Pickled Fish or Ingelegde Vis is thought to have originated from Cape Malay Cooking as a way to preserve fresh fish at the early Cape colony. It was only much later that the aromatic dish became a staple food at Easter time, perhaps chosen for its ability to stay fresh over the long Easter weekend. Whilst pickled fish is closely linked to Cape Town, it is a much-loved dish, enjoyed by both Muslims and Christians.
Pickled fish is a sweet and sour dish which is traditionally eaten over Easter time. This is a very tasty way of preparing fish and can be cooked in advance. The flavour improves with time and stays fresh for up to two weeks in the refrigerator . Here I have used yellow tail to make this pickled fish. You may use snoek or any other firm fish. Best eaten cold. My kids tend to warm it slightly in the microwave!
Ingredients:
1kg snoek or any firm fish cut into large slices
Salt and pepper for seasoning
1 cup brown vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
3 large onions, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
1 tsp whole peppercorns
1 tsp salt
2 tsp ground coriander / koljana
1 tsp ground cumin / jeera
1/2 tsp turmeric /borrie
1 tsp crushed chillies
1/4 tsp dry ginger
1 tsp curry spice
5 bay leaves



Follow my Youtube tutorial for the method https://youtu.be/YT6aOpM9pwU
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Tuna Breyani
Salwaa’s Tuna Breyani
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!
Ingredients:
2 cups long grain rice
2-3 tins of tuna
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup vegetable oil
3 potatoes
2 large onions, sliced thinly sliced
1 tomato, chopped
¼ cup buttermilk
1 – 2 green chillies, chopped
1 ½ tsp jeera / cumin
3 cloves
3 allspice
3 cardamoms
2 stick cinnamons
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp fish masala
2 tsp garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
½ – 1 tsp chilli powder
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 tsp turmeric / borrie
Method:
Boil the rice in water until half done. Drain, rinse and set aside. Peel the potatoes, cut into slices. Heat the oil in saucepan, fry the potatoes until lightly browned and semi soft, set aside. Drain excess oil from the saucepan, add the chopped onions, fry until golden brown. Add the chopped tomato, buttermilk, green chillies, jeera, cloves, allspice, cardamoms, stick cinnamon and salt. Simmer over low to medium heat for 10 minutes or until onions are soft.
Meanwhile, combine all the spices with the lemon juice in a small bowl, stir to combine. Pour over tuna. Arrange the potato slices at the bottom of a large heavy based pot / saucepan. Add half of the rice on top of the potatoes, spreading it evenly.
Arrange the tuna with the masala on top of the rice on top of the rice, then the onion mixture, then the mixed vegetables ending with the remaining rice. Dot the butter on top of the rice add 1 cup of hot water.
Cover and steam to complete over low to medium heat for about 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and leave to rest for 10 minutes before serving with lemon atchar or blatjang.
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Read the rest of this entryDried Fish and Cabbage
Salwaa’s Dried Fish & Cabbage
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!

As we discovered on our recent trip to Portugal, Bacalhau (salted cod fish), is the most popular ingredient in Portuguese cooking. Traditionally there are more than 365 different dishes, one for each day of the year.

Salted Cod – Bacalhau
This reminded me of the dried snoek and cabbage bredie my grandmother and aunty used to make. So naturally we bought a small piece of salted cod which is similar to hake as we know it.

So today I share my grandmother’s recipe with you. What are your memories of this dish?
Salwaa’s Dried Fish & Cabbage
Ingredients:
1 medium cabbage
300g saltfish
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 Tbsp cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely grated
2 green chillies, or according to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into half
Salt, if needed

Salted Cod – Bacalhau
Method:
Soak the salt fish in water for about 30 minutes to remove excess salt.
Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic, sauté until golden brown.
In the meantime slice or shred the cabbage finely.
When the onion is nice and golden, add the cabbage, potatoes, chillies and pepper.

Stir and cook until the potatoes is almost soft. Add drops of water if needed.
The cabbage must be a deep golden brown.
Strain the fish in a colander, pick or cut the fish into small pieces.
Add the fish to the cabbage, stir gently to combine.

Simmer a further 10 minutes.
Taste for salt and add according to you taste buds.
Serve with white rice, homemade blatjang or lemon atchar.

Here’s my complete recipe:
Salwaa’s Dried Fish & Cabbage
Ingredients:
1 medium cabbage
300g saltfish
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 Tbsp cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely grated
2 green chillies, or according to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into half
Salt, if needed
Method:
Soak the salt fish in water for about 30 minutes to remove excess salt.
Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic, sauté until golden brown.
In the meantime slice or shred the cabbage finely.
When the onion is nice and golden, add the cabbage, potatoes, chillies and pepper.
Stir and cook until the potatoes is almost soft. Add drops of water if needed.
The cabbage must be a deep golden brown.
Strain the fish in a colander, pick or cut the fish into small pieces.
Add the fish to the cabbage, stir gently to combine.
Simmer a further 10 minutes.
Taste for salt and add according to you taste buds.
Serve with white rice, homemade blatjang or lemon atchar.
Cook’s Note:
Use dried snoek or 2 tins tuna
I used a “spitskop” cabbage

Koesister Pre-Mix
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All content and media belongs to Salwaa Smith & Cape Malay Delights (PTY) LTD.
Dried Fish and Cabbage
Salwaa’s Dried Fish & Cabbage
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!

As we discovered on our recent trip to Portugal, Bacalhau (salted cod fish), is the most popular ingredient in Portuguese cooking. Traditionally there are more than 365 different dishes, one for each day of the year.

Salted Cod – Bacalhau
This reminded me of the dried snoek and cabbage bredie my grandmother and aunty used to make. So naturally we bought a small piece of salted cod which is similar to hake as we know it.

So today I share my grandmother’s recipe with you. What are your memories of this dish?
Salwaa’s Dried Fish & Cabbage
Ingredients:
1 medium cabbage
300g saltfish
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 Tbsp cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely grated
2 green chillies, or according to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into half
Salt, if needed

Salted Cod – Bacalhau
Method:
Soak the salt fish in water for about 30 minutes to remove excess salt.
Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic, sauté until golden brown.
In the meantime slice or shred the cabbage finely.
When the onion is nice and golden, add the cabbage, potatoes, chillies and pepper.

Stir and cook until the potatoes is almost soft. Add drops of water if needed.
The cabbage must be a deep golden brown.
Strain the fish in a colander, pick or cut the fish into small pieces.
Add the fish to the cabbage, stir gently to combine.

Simmer a further 10 minutes.
Taste for salt and add according to you taste buds.
Serve with white rice, homemade blatjang or lemon atchar.

Here’s my complete recipe:
Salwaa’s Dried Fish & Cabbage
Ingredients:
1 medium cabbage
300g saltfish
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 Tbsp cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely grated
2 green chillies, or according to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into half
Salt, if needed
Method:
Soak the salt fish in water for about 30 minutes to remove excess salt.
Heat the oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic, sauté until golden brown.
In the meantime slice or shred the cabbage finely.
When the onion is nice and golden, add the cabbage, potatoes, chillies and pepper.
Stir and cook until the potatoes is almost soft. Add drops of water if needed.
The cabbage must be a deep golden brown.
Strain the fish in a colander, pick or cut the fish into small pieces.
Add the fish to the cabbage, stir gently to combine.
Simmer a further 10 minutes.
Taste for salt and add according to you taste buds.
Serve with white rice, homemade blatjang or lemon atchar.
Cook’s Note:
Use dried snoek or 2 tins tuna
I used a “spitskop” cabbage

Koesister Pre-Mix
Visit our online shop www.capemalaycookingdelights.com/shop
All content and media belongs to Salwaa Smith & Cape Malay Delights (PTY) LTD.
Boeber
Salwaa’s Boeber
A traditional South African Cape Malay recipe, the taste is so rich and sugary. Boeber is made of milk, vermicelli, sago, sugar or condensed milk flavoured with cardamoms, stick cinnamon and rose water. If you like a “thicker” boeber add more sago. Boeber is traditionally served on the fifteenth night of Ramadan to celebrate the middle of the fast. The evening of the 15th day of Ramadaan is special for those who had fasted the first 15 days. They are known as people who are ‘op die berg’ Many, many years ago after the taraweegh salaah, boeber was served at the mosques. Every family also made boeber for this particular night. After Taraweegh salaah, boeber was also sold at boeber houses at two pence a glass. There, friends would assemble and, if it were a Friday or Saturday, would stay up until sower (suhur) and then go to the masjid for Fajr.
To make boeber you will need the following:
50g butter
3/4 cup sago
200 ml water to soak the sago
250 ml vermicelli
3 cinnamon sticks
5 cardamoms
50 g sultanas (optional)
1.5 – 2 liters milk
1/2 tin condensed milk or sugar to taste
1 tin evaporated milk (optional)
1/4 cup of desiccated coconut
15 ml rose water (optional)
50 g blanched almonds (optional)

Method:
Soak the sago in the water for about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a saucepan.
When it has melted, add the vermicelli and toss it so that the butter covers it and it starts to go golden brown.
Add the cardamom, cinnamon and the sultanas.

Stir before pouring the milk into the pan.
Bring to the boil before adding the pre-soaked sago and then simmer for about 30 minutes stirring constantly otherwise it will stick. Add evaporated milk. The sago should become transparent.

Add the rose water (if using), condensed milk, coconut and almonds and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes or so. Serve hot and enjoy this rich, spicy drink…
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!
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Paella
Salwaa’s Paella
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!
Ingredients:
1kg seafood mix
2 chicken fillets, cubed
3 large onions, finely sliced
Oil for frying
3 cups uncooked white / basmati rice
Salt and Tabasco sauce to taste
Few strands of saffron
Fresh chopped parsley for garnishing (optional)
Shelled mussels for garnishing
Marinade
3 Tbsp peri-peri, chilli or chutney sauce
2 tsp crushed garlic
3 tsp Paella spice
Salt to taste
1 tsp Tabasco sauce
Juice of 1 lemon
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Method:
Put saffron strands in a cup of boiling water.
Combine marinade ingredients in a mixing bowl, add seafood mix and marinate for about 1 hour.
Stir fry cubes chicken until cooked in little olive oil and set aside.
Meanwhile, fry onions in hot oil until golden brown. Remove onions from pan and set aside.
Transfer seafood and marinade to frying pan, stir fry for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, boil rice in salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse using a colander.
Layer ingredients in a large saucepan as follows: first rice, then seafood mixture and fried chicken. Continue layering until all ingredients have been used, sprinkling each layer with a little salt and Tabasco sauce.
Lastly pour the saffron water over the rice.
Garnish with a few shelled mussels. Steam, covered, over medium heat for 20 minutes.



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