Fish They Eat In Africa

Africa is the world’s second-largest continent after Asia. The continent is surrounded by four different bodies of water: the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean sea, and Red sea.

It consists of 54 countries in total. Truth be told that there are many African fish species out there that can be caught in the different coastal areas of Africa.

A Must-Read: How Much Are Fishing Boats?

Many chefs in this region are also aspired to come up with their own best version of African cuisine. If you are curious to know what they offer, you need to check these unique dishes.

The Classic Snoek

Snoek is one of the famous fishes caught in the coastal area of Cape Town in South Africa. It can grow up to 2 meters. While it’s a delight buying this fresh, it can also be bought frozen. They are versatile in terms of cooking. You can poach it, bake it, fried and even smoke it.

Many locals recommended it to be served grilled and with a side of sweet potatoes. Snoek is a staple and good source of livelihood in Cape Town; it is mainly sold and prepared as canned foods.

Galjoen

Commonly known as Blackfish, Galjoen is a marine fish found in the coastal areas of Angola to South Africa. This is South Africa’s National Fish.

They are usually found in the coral reefs surrounding the vicinity of Angola and South Africa. This popular dish is notably famous in the southern hemisphere of Africa.

Due to their vast popularity, it’s one of the most delicate fish found on every African plate and has been part of every family tradition and occasion.

This marine species can be enjoyed simply with pepper and lemon or mayonnaise and some toasted garlic with butter. It can also be served with bread and some apricot jam.

Kapenta

They are also known as Tanganyika sardines in Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. They are tiny fishes and planktivores found in the freshwater in Lake Tanganyika, Zambia, and Lake Malawi, Malawi.

They often swim in large schools of fish and feed on copepods and small jellyfish. Fishermen use a special kind of net for capturing them; they can be lured into a fishing net that uses Kapenta Rigs.

These rigs use mercury lights to attract them. Kapenta fish are mainly dried in the sun. It’s one of Africa’s prominent sources of food and livelihood. Some parts of Zimbabwe are fried with onions and tomatoes and lots of different spices in a traditional meal called Isitshwala or Sadza.

Cape Gurnard

Cape Gurnard is a type of sea robin found on the Western side of the Indian Ocean. They can be found mainly in the sea bed and lurking around the areas of Mozambique and Namibia.

Throughout history, these kinds of species normally get trawled, and trawlers toss them back to sea because they don’t find them tasty or even delicious.

When cooked, it has a lovely texture, normally white color, and is very delicious in general, much quite the opposite of what it looks outside. With its fresh smell, they have a white flesh that is good and firm when it’s cooked, and it’s perfect for soups and stews.

White Steenbras

Steenbras are part of the species of Sparidae. These types of fish are endemic to South Africa. It has a shiny scale and marine fish. They mainly eat bivalves and crustaceans.

They can be found in most estuaries. Most people from South Africa cooked this in a fish curry with an added spice mix to keep it fresh and flavorful. It is considered endangered, and not many people were able to obtain them.

Elf And Shad

Also known as Blue Fish. It is a pelagic type of fish found in most parts of the world as long as they have tropical waters. This kind of fish is a popular game fish and food fish.

It is one of the most proportioned fish in existence. They normally range from 7 inches to larger, depending on where they were found.

Bluefish can be poached, baked, or smoked. It is high in omega-3 but also contains mercury and PCBs. The smaller version can be fried as they don’t produce a lot of oils in their body. They recommend that children and women of age should consume one serving per week.

Bronze Bream

The Bronze Beam can be located on the western side of Africa, almost reaching Mozambique. With a 30cm to 55cm length, it can weigh up to 4kg. It has a very distinct flat and high-backed structure. It has a very distinct bronze color noticeably in clear waters.

Usually, these species can be found in the rivers but can also be found in sea waters. They have white and flaky flesh, and sometimes they taste sweet depending on where you procure them.

Geelbek/Cape Salmon

One of the most famous and most noticeable fish on the whole continent. It’s a very long and sturdy fish with a natural blue going to copper appearance and has a very distinct translucent skin.

This is similar to European salmon, but their flesh is white and contains exquisite flavor. It can weigh up to 25kg and has a max length of 130cm.

Like most marine fish, this also contains omega-3 fatty acids suitable for the body. The most famous technique in cooking Cape Salmon includes braaing, grilling, steaming, baking, and frying.

We are adding flavor from garlic and butter, or adding it to a seafood paella does the trick. This kind of fish can be added or made into anything.

Conclusion

Marine fishes are very healthy, and it gives good nutrition to people. They are enriched with pack-up nutrients that everyone needs.

African cuisine comes with a whole load of diverse meals and delicacies that can only be found in their domain, and it is delicious. One can never be wrong that this dry land can come up with good seafood that is good for people in moderation.