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| Nigerian Grilled Fish served with Plantains and Rice |
Nigerian Grilled fish is simply delicious. I love the way my mom prepares it; tasty, spicy and always on point .
The grilled fish recipe is very simple and the ingredients can be twisted to suit the available spices and seasonings in your kitchen pantry.
In Nigeria, we make use of Tilapia fish, but the recipe also works pretty well with any tasty fish. So let’s get cooking.
* Here’s a detailed video recipe on How to Prepare this Nigerian Grilled Fish
Ingredients for Nigerian Grilled fish
• 2 Whole Tilapia/Croaker/sea bream Fish(or any whole fish of choice)
• 1 tablespoonful ground Black pepper
• 1 tablespoonful thyme OR basil OR dried oregano(Optional but adds nice Herby taste &flavor)
• 1 tablespoonful ground kuli kuli or peanut butter (optional, but you’ll like the nutty taste…give it a try)
• 1 tablespoonful ground Red Chili pepper(or to suit your taste
• ½ teaspoon ginger powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoonful garlic powder/3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bouillon /stock cube/seasoning cube (optional if you are MSG intolerant)
• ½ teaspoon curry powder(optional)
• 3 tablespoonful Vegetable Oil
• ½ teaspoon Salt to taste
Tip: Most of the spices listed here are optional, but the pepper, salt(or seasoning cubes) and oil are the most important ones, so feel free to combine all or a few of them to your taste.
Direction
1. Clean the fish in salted or lime water and remove the scales gills and gut.Rinse thoroughly and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, prepare the marinade by mixing all the ingredients together until well incorporated(Except the fish of course)
3. Next, Place the fish on a wide aluminum foil(wide enough to cover the fish properly) and with a sharpened knife make some slashes lengthwise on each side of the fish. These slashes will help the marinade to penetrate into the fish and enhance the taste).
TIP: the number of slashes you make will depend on the size & lenght of the fish you are using.
4. Using a brush or your clean hands, rub the marinade mix on the fish and also inside the spaces made by the slashes. Make sure that the fish is well covered with the marinade. Then cover with the foil and leave in the fridge to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
Tip: Another effective way to marinade is to dump the fish into a large Ziploc bag and pour the marinade into the bag. Shake rigorously , and leave to rest.
5. Preheat the oven grill for 20 minutes at 180C/375F. while you wait for the fish to soak in the marinade.
6. Take out the fish from the fridge, remove the aluminum foil. Grease the grill with oil and place the fish on the hot grill.
Leave the fish to cook for 5 to 10 minutes on one side before flipping over to the other side.(The time it takes to cook depends on how hot your grill is)
If you want a very tender fish, you can grill the fish inside the foil.
The fish is ready when it is beautifully brown on both sides. So take it off the heat, serve and enjoy!
I’ll like yo know what lime does as part of the marinade. I’ve seen slices of lime served with barbecue fish. What’s the point?
Author
There are several reasons, but I’ll mention a few.
First lime or lemon goes well with fish and also lime
helps to reduce the intense fish flavor and taste of the fish.
It also makes the fish taste better and richer
God bless you for this wonderful free knowledge you are imparting to our generation. Waiting to see when the food manual will be out.
God bless you for this wonderful free knowledge you are imparting to our generation. Waiting to see when the food manual will be out.
God bless you for this wonderful free knowledge you are imparting to our generation. Waiting to see when the food manual will be out.
please is it ok to grill the fish with vegetable like ugwu carrot and cabbage wrapped in foil.
Hi Nky Lily, I am very glad to have come across your blog. I am planning to start a small business that is selling grilled chicken and chips or fish and chips. I really want it to be something people will rush for any day. Please how do I contact you so that you help me with some advice regarding this. Please my number is 08174125329 or whatsapp 09095303232
Pls can I use cat fish
hello, thanks for the tips. pls i want to ask the pros and cons for using catfish for d process as against tilapia or Croaker
You can also make use of Catfish, but let it grill for a longer time.One downside is that it wont be as crispy as when tilapia is used.
Trying it out today. What can I use in place of the foil. I ran out of foil in the house and the store is drive away. Don't feel like driving today
Been looking for something special to make for my wedding anniversary. Thank you for the recipe. Will share the outcome.
love your recipes
afternoon, do i need to remove the pan wen i want to grill and just place the fish on the grill steel, my oven has holes wer i cld see the flames, want to b sure so the oil from the fish dont put out the flames. also, can i use the recipe for chicken?
Hi Tommy, you can put a pan or a sheet of aluminum foil under the grill to drip.And yes you can use it for chicken too.
afternoon, do i need to remove the pan wen i want to grill and just place the fish on the grill steel, my oven has holes wer i cld see the flames, want to b sure so the oil from the fish dont put out the flames. also, can i use the recipe for chicken?
Pls ma where can we get ur books on dis pls pls pls I need it. God will continue to bless ur hand work. Temiddayo
Thanks , the book is coming out soon.
Pls what's marinate
The mixture of oil and spices, used in the recipe above.
Hi,Can you bake the fish as well?
Yes you can Brittany.
Hi Nky, wonderful blog you have here.A quick one. Please when grilling the fish using a microwave, can I use a ceramic/breakable glass flat plate? Thanks hun. It's quite urgent.
If the ceramic plate has a heat proof symbol underneat it, then go ahead and use it.
God bless Nigerianfoodtv, God bless Nky…
God bless u too hun 🙂
Hi nky,the electric oven I have has d option of emitting heat from d top and bottom. Do I set d heat to come out from both sides or just d bottom so that the top is not too dry wen I want to flip over. Nice work here.
Yes, you can do just that, but be aware that the heat from the top can help the top of the fish to cook well without you having to flip it over.
This looks quite fabulous! And with all those flavors, I can imagine it would be beautifully fragrant and tasty too 🙂
Thanks 🙂
Thanks a bunch. U're doing a great job. Pls how do u prevent d fish from scattering when u wnt to turn it from side to side while in d oven.n how do u prevent d fish from sticking to d pan. Tnx
Make sure the pan is very hot before placing the fish on it and also let the fish cook well on one side before flipping it over.
Am a student,I don't have an oven or microwave, pls how do I grill my fish
steps coming soon dearie 🙂
I just love love love uh blog n yu too.Well done madam
thanks dearie 🙂
I just love love love yuh blog n yu too.Weldone madam
Hello, love the read, totally! Please may i use this as content for a magazine?
Hello 🙂 still waiting for your response.
When slitting the fish, do you slit both sides or just one.
both
I tried d recipe but the fish was so soft that when I tried turning it, it scattered in my oven but the taste was great. I used croacker fish. Please what should I do next time. I lik is crispy. Txs.
Next time let it stay a little longer in the oven, so that the hot air will suck up mot of the moisture in the fish. You will know it is crispy just by looking at it.
So good to be on your blog i actually grilled croaker fish cut in bits and spiced with garlic,fresh pepper,salt ,thyme and 1 boullion stock but it didnt dry well and my spice didnt enter the fish well but now i ve seen my flaws. I didnt pre- heat my oven before placing the fish. Then i want to ask which one is used to grill the long pan in the oven or the long stringy open steel. Also my time has 150c, 175c, and 200c etc wh
The long open steel :)You can use the 175C setting .
Thank you for sharing. Crocker fish currently on the grill can't wait to eat ?
🙂
When mixing the marinade 2gether can I add water?Or I just mix and add in powdery form?Also can I apply the marinade on chicken to gril or I have to make a different sauce?Thanks love your blog.
You don't need water, you already have oil as part of the marinade mix, and yes you can use it on chicken too.
Plz can I use a barbecue stand for d fish? Or oven grill
O yes, you can use both 🙂
I love this. Thanks a bunch. Wanna ask this. Thrs a place in my area they rub something like tin tomatoes. While grilling on a chacoal grill they use brush and rub tin tomatoes on d body of d fish. What would u say to that.
I haven't tried that yet, but are you really sure it is tin tomatoes?
I'm allergic to curry can I take out the curry without losing taste
Hi Kathryn, curry is optional in this recipe, so you can omit it 🙂
Can I use a George Foreman type grill that has a top and bottom to sandwich the fish as it cooks? Will the skin stick or should I keep it in foil? I had wanted it crispy but I don't have an outside grill.Trying to make this for my Nigerian friends. If I put peppers and onions in it will it mess up the flavor?
Yes, you can make use of it but make sure you grease the grill very well with oil and that it is very hot before placing the fish on it.Nigerian grilled fish are not always stuffed, so don't bother adding the peppers.
I love dis and dis made my day.
thanks luv 🙂
Hi ma'am. Pls the oven I use have burners on top and beneath, which should I use to grill and at what step close to the burner shld I place the grill steel? God bless
I used the upper one to grill mine,but had to turn the fish over so that the part below can also get some heat and crust. You have to place it very close to the burner, but not too close that the fish touches the burner.
I love u so much Nky! No homo.
🙂
This was very very good. Thank you
You're welcome hun 🙂
Hi, its a good thing you are doing here and I appreciate the help you are rendering to us immensely. I have a surprise delicacy am preparing for a loved one and your recipe on how to prepare grilled fish, have been of tremendous use to me, I appreciate. But I have a very big problem which surround the area garnishing the fish and I need mine to be like yours exactly as it appeared on this page. Please I need your help because I have already boasted to the person that I will make her continue to salivate for the food after she must have eaten it . Please help me not to mess things up for myself.
Thanks dear, I'm honored that you are trying to use my recipe as a surprise to your friend :)For the 'neck part'' of the fish which usually appears ''empty'' after grilling, I made a bow, using 2 thin slices of tomato and the green part of the cucumber.For the food, I used cucumber,fried plantains and rice&stew.Hope this helps and I'll be expecting a feedback and pic too 🙂
I'm using an electric oven,what temperature an how long to cook
Use temp 180C/375F, and cook for 20 minutes, the cooking time will also depend on the size of the fish.
I have an electric oven, what temperature and how long to cook????
What temperature is the oven set at for grilling?
I used a gas oven and set it at ''moderate heat'' which is about 180C/375F.
Thanks! 🙂
You're welcome 🙂
What temperature is the oven set to for grilling?
Wow thanks to you ma now I know how to grill my fish keep the good work going
You're welcome dearie 🙂
I love this,keep it up.pls I need recipe on how to make ice cream.
Thanks walex, ice cream recipe on the way dear 🙂
I love all your cooking I have copied most of them yummy
Thanks dear 🙂
I just love all your recipe's I have copied most of them yummy
Thanks dear 🙂
Pls what is basil and oregano.pls a quick answer wil be appreciated.An pls I havw send questions on d receip for palm wine no ans yet pls what is happening.I ask what is castor sugar and d ballon dey used in palm wine receip
Onyilove, basil is like nchuawun or efirin in Nigeria, while you can use thyme in place of oregano. I have also answered the question you asked about the palm wine, check the palm wine page dear 🙂
you do a great and detailed work. God increase u always.
Thank you so much Emike, God bless you 🙂
Nice blog Nky, i am gonna try this tomorrow, hubby love tilapia.
That'll be nice colico, would love to hear your feedback 🙂
Thanks Nky Lily Lete for this wonderful receipe.am about to try it,can i send u a pic when am done?
ok dear , I'll be expecting the pic 🙂
Thanks Nky Lily Lete,i was looking for a receipe on how to grill croaker fish and i just love this,am about to try it.can i send u a pic when am done?
Hi namesake , you are so welcome, pls send the pics to my facebook page or to [email protected] 🙂
Hi, you mentioned that you won't advise one to use foil in a microwave girll. Well, that's what I have and I plan to make one kinda fish that is cooked in foil with potatoes and veggies in it. It's not grilled to the point where it's dry. Infact, you can use a spoon to scoop some of the stock. Have you tried it before? Can you pls shed more light on how it is done? I'll appreciate a quick reply. Thanks a lot and keep up the good work!
Hi Maureen, I don't know the type of microwave grill you have, some microwave comes with the grill setting and microwave on the same mark.Most manufacturers advise against using foil paper or any type of metal to prevent sparks and explosion, it'll be good to check the manual for more information.As for the recipe you're talking about, I only prepare it in my oven grill(not microwave grill), simply clean the fish,and marinate as in the recipe above, then place your potatoes and veggies inside the fish, cover with foil and place on the grill.Cook for 15minutes.
thanks for the receipe, your blog actually rocks. time to give hubby some good treat. will gain more 1000yards of wife material
Thanks ijay, you are so funny my dear 🙂
I love ur blog. Can I use an oven 2 grill? Thanks
Thanks dear, I used my oven for this recipe, so of course you can 🙂
Pls while grilling in a microwave, do u leave the door open or closed?
Hi dear, If you are using a microwave grill, the door has to be closed. Most microwave won't work if the door is open
Love ds blog. Good wok Madam. Hw do I garnish it with cabbage n carrot?
Thanks dear,you can slice the cabbage and carrots and mix with a little mayonnaise or salad cream (that's coleslaw), then place it as a garnish for the grilled fish 🙂
Awesome, as a man I'll love to try this out soon.This is a place I been looking for. Very well done
Thanks dear 🙂
Wat about catfish
This method works for catfish too 🙂
Hmm thnks for this recipe,it realy helped. Thnks one more,keep up the good work
I'm so glad to be of help dear, Thanks for the feedback Violet 🙂
If I will be grilling with the foil on the fish, it means I will keep opening the foil to see if the fish is done, right?
You dont have to keep opening the foil to check… simply time the cooking..let each side cook for about 12 minutes then turn to the other side. Cooking on open grill(without foil) cooks the fish faster and gives it a smoky flavor too.
Nice one Aunty Nky Lily Lete, really doing a nice job, well done. Please what is a Ziploc Bag?
Hi dear, it's simply a polythene bag that has a plastic snap that is used to zip it at the top.You also put the fish in a normal nylon bag,pour the marinade, close it tight and shake 🙂
Nice blog.Plz I used electric griller,is it ok to u foil paper inside?
If it is a microwave grill, I don't recommend foil paper, but if it's just a normal electric grill, go ahead and use the foil.
Do you have all this recipes in a book ma.
Not yet dear..but very soon 🙂
Waiting patiently for the book. Thumbs up.
🙂 thanks
Can I put flour in the mixture before grilling the fish? Expecting your reply. Tanx!!!!. Well,I love your blog and that meal is tempting.
I don't put flour while grilling, but if you want to pan fry the fish, you can dip in flour.Thanks for the compliment dear 🙂
plz ma can i use microwave to grill the fish? tnx
Yes you can use a microwave grill, but the cooking time will depend on the setting of your microwave.
Thanks for the compliment sweetie. I Grilled this fish without the foil because I wanted the fish to be ''crispy'' outside.. but if you are aiming for a moist fish, grill it in the foil dear. Do Let me know how it turns out Jubemi 🙂
Hi, please do you grill the fish in the foil or do you take it out of the foil before grilling. Would like to make it over the weekend so a response would be much appreciated. Thank you.P.S, your blog ROCKS!!!
Thanks for the compliment sweetie.I Grilled this fish without the foil because I wanted the fish to be ''crispy'' outside.. but if you are aiming for a moist fish, grill it in the foil dear.Do Let me know how it turns out Jubemi 🙂
Oh my God love your blog! I'm bookmarking immediately!
Thanks Madam, well appreciated 🙂
God bless u as i read it,i put to practice. Now i can gril my fish and chicken on my own. No more calling friends.
I'm glad to be of help sweetie 🙂
hello Nky,
I love what you are doing. My electric oven has option for broil or grill. Which should I use for a crispy fish.
Author
Hi Rachel, My new oven also has the two settings.
I use the broil setting( heat from the top), when I want to get a really crispy fish
and when the top is cooked to my satisfaction,
I place the fish at the bottom and switch to grill, to make the bottom crispy too without having to turn the fish around.
Hope this helps. Let me know how it turned out.
hello NKY,
Thank you for your quick response. I really appreciate what you are doing here.
I will like to confirm if grill is the same as bake. My oven does not have grill. it has only broil and bake.
Also, do I need to use the pan or use the open rack.
regards
Author
Hi Racheal,
if your oven only has the broil and bake,then
you bake with the bake and grill with the broil setting.
If I want a crispy fish, I use the open rack , but with the pan underneat to catch drips.