DRIED FISH: TYPES AND USES

Dry fish is very much loved by many homes, it is enjoyed by the different tribes in Nigeria.

It is a power ingredient in most native Nigerian soups; you can easily build the flavors of soups with it then add just a little bit of seasoning to perfect the taste. This is why when you don’t use ingredients like stockfish, smoked fish, crayfish in your soups, you might end up adding in a lot of seasoning cubes to make up for it.

When shopping for dry seafood, one of the worst mistakes you can make is to buy the  ones that are already rotting inside without knowing. Some can already have maggots or insects inside but are oiled to appear fresh. You can easily tell this from the stale odor you get from them so BEWARE!

TYPES OF DRIED/SMOKED FISH

There are various types of dried fish in the market today used to add deep flavour and improve the taste of your soup, stew and other meals. 

Below are some popular ones you can find:

1. Smoked Dried Catfish

This is the most commonly used dried fish in many homes. It is either sold as round fish (where the whole fish is bent into a circle, pinned with a tiny stick and smoked), or as sliced cutlets. It is rich in taste, oily and has a meaty texture.

Smoked dried catfish can be used in soups and stew to give it a delightful flavour.

2. Smoked Panla Fish (Hake fish)

10 Healthy Nigerian Foods You Should Eat More Often – Iyaloja Direct: DRIED FISH: TYPES AND USES

This is the most affordable and widely available fish. It is usually imported frozen and then smoked locally until it dries out completely. It has a lighter colour and it is more slender in shape than catfish.

Smoked panla fish flakes easily, thereby making it perfect for shredding into Ayamase( Ofada Stew),Efo riro, Okro soup and even in stew.

3. Dried Mangala Fish

This is a popular scaly fresh water fish gotten from Northern Nigeria, Lake Chad and other neighbouring countries like Niger. The fish is split open, cleaned and then smoked until it is dark and firm.

Mangala holds its  shape intact during cooking and it is often           used in cooking soups like ogbono, egusi, bitterleaf soup e.t.c.

4. Bonga Fish

This fish contains a lot of small bones and it is often blended or grounded into fine powder to be used as a natural flavour enhancer.

Whole bonga fish can also be cut in pieces to season local delicacies like native rice and palm oil stews.

5. Dried Croaker Fish

This is another popular fish with a naturally sweet taste and large flakes.

Dried Croaker fish is used for making various soups like Nsala soup and pepper soups. Its flesh absorbs the spicy broth while maintaining a clean, less oily fish flavour.

3 Things To Look Out For When Buying Dry/Smoked Fish.

1. Stale, musty smell
2. mold build up
3. Insects: you can shake the fish.

CONCLUSION

Are you in Lagos and want to get any of this Dried Fish without the stress of looking for where to get good and fresh ones, not mild or insect infested dried fish? Worry No More.

With Iyaloja Direct weekly bulk foodstuff sharing in Lagos,  you can buy any dried seafood ranging from crayfish, to prawns, dried fish of choice, even stockfish no matter how little at direct Mile12, Oyingbo market prices.  

We help you save money up to 40% on your food budget, save time and stress because we are buying for many people at the same time. We also deliver directly to their Lagos location.

Contact us today to shop your fresh and quality foodstuff.

You can also conveniently shop at www.iyalojadirect.com