Pastéis de Peixe — Print Recipe

Flaky golden pastry parcels stuffed with seasoned flaked fish, onion, and peppers — a beloved street snack with Portuguese-African roots.

Ingredients

1 Boil fish until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain, flake, and remove any bones.
2 Sauté onion, garlic, tomato, and scotch bonnet in 1 tbsp oil until soft. Add flaked fish and paprika. Season with salt. Cool completely.
3 Make dough: mix flour, 2 tbsp oil, salt, and warm water. Knead until smooth. Rest for 15 minutes.
4 Roll dough thin and cut into circles (about 10cm diameter).
5 Place a spoonful of fish filling on each circle. Fold in half and seal edges with a fork.
6 Deep fry at 180°C until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.
7 Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Did You Know?

Pastéis vendors in Bissau have their own turf — regular customers are fiercely loyal to their preferred corner vendor.