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Fisherman’s Birthday Fish Broth

The Quirky Foodster Team

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Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) mixed whole fish (snapper, jack fish), cleaned
  • 300 g (10.5 oz) dasheen (taro), peeled and cubed
  • 3 (3) green banana, peeled and sliced
  • 200 g (7 oz) pumpkin, cubed
  • 1 (1) christophene, cubed
  • 1 (1) onion, chopped
  • 4 (4) garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 (4) thyme sprigs
  • 1 (1) scotch bonnet pepper (whole)
  • 1.5 l (6 cups) fish stock or water
  • 30 ml (2 tbsp) lime juice (for cleaning fish)

Method

  1. Rub fish with lime juice and rinse; cut into large pieces if desired, or leave whole for smaller fish.
  2. In a large pot, sauté onion and garlic in a little oil for 3 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Add fish stock or water, dasheen, green banana, pumpkin and christophene; bring to a boil.
  4. Add fish pieces, thyme and whole scotch bonnet; reduce heat and simmer 20–25 minutes until fish and vegetables are cooked through.
  5. Season with salt to taste, remove scotch bonnet, and ladle into bowls to serve hot, communal-style.

Introduction: Grenada's annual Fisherman's Birthday festival in August honours coastal communities with a communal fish broth cooked in giant pots on the beach, shared freely among villagers and visitors alike.

Cultural Background: Grenada's annual Fisherman's Birthday festival in August honours coastal communities with a communal fish broth cooked in giant pots on the beach, shared freely among villagers and visitors alike.

Tips: Add firmer fish and root vegetables first, saving delicate fish pieces for the final 10 minutes to avoid overcooking. This broth is traditionally made in large quantities to share — scale up the recipe generously for gatherings.

Variations: Add okra for extra body and traditional texture. Include shellfish such as shrimp for a richer broth on special occasions.

Storage: Refrigerate up to 3 days; best enjoyed fresh due to the delicate fish.

Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring carefully to keep fish pieces intact.

Nutrition: Approx. 310 kcal, 28 g protein, 8 g fat, 32 g carbohydrate per serving.

FAQs:

Q: What is Fisherman's Birthday?

A: An annual Grenadian festival in late August celebrating fishing communities with food, music and boat races.

Q: Can this broth be made with fillets instead of whole fish?

A: Yes, though whole fish traditionally adds more flavour to the broth through bones and skin.

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