Nigerian Style Fish Roll

When I see Fish Roll, it reminds me of the sound made by tapping a fork on a glass box. And that’s how some street vendors used to sell their fish roll. Just like an ice cream van once you heard that tapping you knew who was coming down the road.

Delicious, chunky dough pastry on the outside and flaky fish on the inside. It could feel like scam sometimes when some vendors would sell you all that chunk of dough with just a sliver of fish inside.

I remember seeing some guys making fish roll in on of the major markets in Lagos a few years ago. They were quick and methodical, I guess from doing it for years they worked in rhythm. I waited to buy it hot out of the fire. Delicious street food is something to indulge in sometimes even when you can it yourself.

You know how i prefer to stick with simple recipes, yes this is one. I know the instructions look long but it is just to detail steps to get beautiful delicious result.

Recipe

Serves 4

For Dough

• 4 cups All Purpose Flour (an extra cup or more to flour the board)
• 5 tbsp margarine
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon yeast
• ¼ tsp baking powder
• 2 tbp sugar
• ½ tablespoon salt (if margarine is salted, skip salt)

For Filling

• 500g mackerel
• 1 onion
• 3 scotch bonnet (Ata rodo)
• *optional* Any herb of choice just a few leaves (e.g spring onions, basil, parsley, cilantro)
• 2 seasoning cubes
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Salt to taste.

Procedure

For Dough

• Proof the yeast to check that it is active. Add sugar to yeast in 1/4 cup warm water. If it froths, its active.
• Mix flour, salt, margarine, baking together till it’s crumbly.
• Add proofed yeast with the rest 3/4 cup of water together to form a dough.
• Knead for about a minute (this is a soft dough)
• Set aside

For Filling

• Start by cooking the fish. Cook in water, add salt and 1 seasoning cube till done
• Chop onions, pepper, herbs.
• Debone fish and flake
• Add a tablespoon of oil to a pan, saute the chopped vegetables, till onion is soft
• Add the fish, curry, thyme, seasoning, salt.
• Stir together till well combined cooked.
• Turn heat off

Assemble

• Flour a board and rolling pin generously
• Divide dough into 4 equal parts
• Roll one part the dough out evenly on a board
• Using a cookie cutter divide into 6 parts
• Spoon the filling into each part and roll up, sealing the edge by applying water to the edge using your fingertips.
• Deep fry on medium heat till golden brown.

Serve warm.

Enjoy with cold bottle of Fresh Juice

• Snacks