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Brazil · Channel Catfish

Pantanal Grilled Catfish

Peixe na Brasa

In the Pantanal wetlands the big catfish (pintado) is cut in thick steaks, seasoned simply with lime, garlic and salt and grilled over hot coals on the riverbank. Farofa and vinagrete complete the plate.

  • Prep 15 min
  • Cook 20 min
  • Serves 4
  • Level Easy
Photo: Márcia Cristina Machado · CC BY-SA 4.0
Served with: Brazilian Toasted Cassava Flour ↓En Español

Ingredients

Tap each item as you gather it.

For the fish

To serve

Method

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

  1. Season. Rub the steaks with lime juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Let them sit 20 minutes, no longer.
  2. Fire the grill. Build a medium-hot charcoal fire. Clean the grate and oil it well, or use an oiled hinged fish grill.
  3. Grill. Brush the fish with oil and grill 6–8 minutes per side, without moving it, until marked and the meat pulls away from the bone.
  4. Baste. Brush once more with oil or butter in the last minute.
  5. Serve. Serve hot off the grill with farofa, vinagrete, rice and lime.

On the side

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

Brazil

Brazilian Toasted Cassava Flour

Farofa

Cassava flour toasted in butter with onion and garlic until sandy and golden. Brazilians sprinkle it over rice, beans and fish stews for crunch.

  • Prep 5 min
  • Cook 15 min
  • Serves 6
  • Level Easy

You need

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 3 strips bacon, chopped (optional)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 cups (250 g) coarse cassava flour (farinha de mandioca)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley or scallion

How to make it

  1. Render. In a wide pan, fry the bacon until crisp. Add the butter and onion and cook 5 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Add the garlic for 1 minute.
  2. Toast the flour. Add the cassava flour and salt. Stir constantly over medium-low heat for 6–8 minutes until it smells nutty and turns light gold.
  3. Finish. Take off the heat and stir in the parsley. Serve in a bowl with a spoon so everyone can sprinkle their own.

Photo: Melsj · 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
Los Llanos, VenezuelaVenezuelan Catfish in Coconut Sauce
Mississippi DeltaSouthern Fried Catfish