Lemon, garlic and dill fish marinade
A short, bright marinade of lemon juice and zest, garlic, dill and oil for fish fillets, steaks and skewers, ready in 20 minutes.
- CoalsGas
- No fire needed
- Prep
- 10 min
- On the fire
- 0 min
- Plan ahead
- 15 to 30 minutes marinating
- Serves
- makes about 200 ml (3/4 cup), enough for 1 kg (2.2 lb) fish
- Done at
- 145°F (63°C)
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the lemon zest and juice, oil, garlic, onion, dill, parsley, salt and pepper together.
- Pour a quarter into a clean jar for brushing over the cooked fish.
- Lay the fish in a glass dish in one layer, pour the rest of the marinade over and turn it once. Refrigerate.
- Marinate thin fillets of hake or kob for 15 minutes, and thicker salmon, yellowtail or tuna steaks for 20 to 30 minutes. Never longer than 30 minutes, or the lemon turns the flesh mushy.
- Lift the fish out and pat it dry with paper towel. Brush it and the grid lightly with oil.
- Braai skin side down over medium-hot coals, about 8 to 10 minutes per 2.5 cm (1 inch) of thickness, turning once if there is no skin. A hinged grid stops soft fish breaking.
- Brush the cooked fish with the clean marinade from the jar. Throw away the marinade the raw fish sat in, or boil it for 2 to 3 minutes before using it.
Done when: the flesh is opaque and flakes when pressed, and a thermometer in the thickest part reads 63°C (145°F).
Tips
- It suits other things too. Prawns: 15 minutes, 2 to 3 minutes a side on hot coals. Chicken breasts: 1 to 4 hours, 12 to 15 minutes on medium coals to 74°C (165°F). Baby marrows and peppers: 30 minutes, 6 to 8 minutes.
- Swap the dill for thyme, rosemary and oregano for a Mediterranean version that suits braaied chicken and lamb.
- Make it no more than a day ahead; the garlic grows sharper.
Fish needs a lighter touch than red meat, and acid works on it in minutes, so this marinade is all about timing. It suits any fish on the braai, from fillets to steaks and skewers. Use it on braaied whole mackerel or braaied salmon.
Source
Adapted from Easy Grilled Salmon Recipe With Lemon Garlic Marinade at Mother Earth News and Lemon & herb marinade at Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.