Poisson en Sauce Légumes à l'Akpi
A fragrant and flavorful Ivorian fish stew featuring tender fish cooked in a rich vegetable sauce, enhanced with the unique nutty aroma of akpi seeds.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 medium Whole Fish(cleaned and cut into steaks (e.g., tilapia, capitaine))
- 2 medium Onions(1 chopped, 1 sliced)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 piece Ginger(3cm, grated)
- 3 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 1 medium Carrots(diced)
- 1 small Eggplant(cubed)
- 150 g Okra(trimmed and sliced)
- 2 tbsp Akpi seeds(ground)
- 3 tbsp Palm oil
- 1 crushed Bouillon cube
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper(or to taste)
- 400 ml Water(or as needed)
- 2 tbsp Parsley(chopped, for garnish)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Marinate the fish steaks with salt, pepper, half of the minced garlic, and half of the grated ginger for about 15 minutes.
- 2
Heat palm oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened. Add the remaining garlic and ginger, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- 3
Add the chopped tomatoes and cook for about 5 minutes until they start to break down. Stir in the ground akpi seeds and the crushed bouillon cube.
- 4
Add the diced carrots and cubed eggplant to the pot. Pour in about 200ml of water, stir well, cover, and let it simmer for 10 minutes.
- 5
Gently place the marinated fish steaks into the sauce. Add the sliced onion and sliced okra. Add the remaining water (about 200ml), or enough to partially submerge the fish.
- 6
Cover the pot and let it simmer gently for about 20-25 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Avoid stirring too much to keep the fish intact.
💡 Tip: You can gently shake the pot occasionally to mix the flavors. - 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Akpi seeds can be found in African or international grocery stores. If unavailable, a small amount of ground peanuts can be used as a substitute, though the flavor will differ.
- ✓Ensure the fish is cooked through but not overcooked, as it can become dry.
- ✓This dish is traditionally served with rice, attiéké, or foutou.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add other vegetables like sweet potatoes or bell peppers.
- For a spicier version, add a chopped scotch bonnet pepper with the tomatoes.
- Use different types of firm white fish.