Fish that fly...and are quite tasty too!

Fresh off the plane from my vacation in Barbados, it's time to talk about the wonder that is Flying Fish. No, they don't really fly, but they swim at speeds up to 30 mph and can travel over 100 yards when they break the surface of the ocean! The fish use their tails to propel themselves out of the water, typically to outrun predators like swordfish, tunas, and other big fish. A pair came in close to shore one day and it was crazy to see them whipping around near the beach. They are said to launch themselves right into the fisherman's boats!

Fun to watch and equally as fun to eat, flying fish are native to Barbados and are usually steamed, grilled up or battered and deep fried. It's a white fish and doesn't have your typical fishy taste, so you non-fish eaters out there can be brave and try some! My favorite is battered and freid and in a sandwich with some spicy jerk mayo, lettuce and tomato. The Friday night fish fry at Oistin's is definitely the place to go for freshly caught and fried flying fish on the island, and you won't be disappointed in the food....or the party!

Here's a quick and easy recipe for Bajan style fried flying fish:

Ingredients:
8 flying fish fillets
1 small onion
1 small green pepper, chopped
1 blade chives, chopped
thyme
parsley
salt and pepper
few drops of lime juice
1 egg, beaten
breadcrumbs
oil for frying
2 limes wedged

Preparation:
Mix the seasoning ingredients and spread over the meaty side of the fish. Leave for about 1 hour. Dip the fish into the beaten egg and then into the breadcrumbs. Fry gently in a little oil for about 10 minutes. Serve with wedged of lime. Serves 4-6.

Fabulous Feasting,
The Diva.