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Venezuela · Channel Catfish

Venezuelan Catfish in Coconut Sauce

Bagre en Coco

On the rivers of the Venezuelan plains, bagre is king. Cooks simmer thick steaks in a sofrito of onion, sweet peppers and ají dulce, then finish them with coconut milk for a rich, gentle sauce.

  • Prep 20 min
  • Cook 30 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy
Photo: Gansham Ramchandani · Pexels
Served with: Sweet Fried Plantains ↓En Español

Ingredients

Tap each item as you gather it.

For the fish

For the sauce

Method

Step by step, the way it is done on the island.

  1. Season the fish. Rub the catfish with the lime, garlic, salt and cumin and let it sit 15 minutes.
  2. Make the sofrito. Warm the oil in a wide pan and cook the onion, bell pepper and ajíes 6 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato and scallions and cook 4 minutes more.
  3. Add the coconut. Stir in the coconut milk and onoto and bring to a gentle simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Cook the fish. Nestle the catfish into the sauce, spoon some over the top, cover and simmer on low 12–15 minutes until it flakes. Do not stir or it will break up.
  5. Serve. Scatter with cilantro and serve with white rice and fried sweet plantain (tajadas).

On the side

The side dish that belongs with it, full recipe included.

Spanish Caribbean

Sweet Fried Plantains

Maduros

Very ripe, black-skinned plantains fried until caramelized and soft as butter. From Havana to San Juan to Santo Domingo, they bring a sweet bite to the fish plate.

  • Prep 5 min
  • Cook 10 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy

You need

  • 3 very ripe plantains (skins mostly black)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • Pinch of salt

How to make it

  1. Slice. Cut off the ends, slit the skin and peel. Slice on a long diagonal about ½ inch (1 cm) thick.
  2. Fry. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat to about 325 °F (165 °C). Fry the slices 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden with dark caramelized edges.
  3. Drain. Drain on paper, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and serve warm.

Photo: Bim24 · CC BY-SA 4.0

More ways to cook Channel Catfish

Same fish, a different corner of the sea.

Neiva, Huila, ColombiaColombian River Fish “Viudo”
Lago Dos Bocas, Puerto RicoPuerto Rican Fried Catfish with Garlic Mojo
Pantanal, BrazilPantanal Grilled Catfish
Mississippi DeltaSouthern Fried Catfish