Ika mata

Author: Yvonne Walus - Recipe writer

First published: Jan 2017

You can use any type of fish and add any ingredients you like in this versatile dish that you can make in only 20 minutes.

Serves: 4

Time to make: 20 mins , plus 2 hrs or overnight chilling

Total cost: $37.40 / $9.35 per serve

(at time of publication)

Ingredients

More weights & measures

500g very fresh fish fillets
½ cup lemon juice
500g kumarasweet-potatoX
¼ teaspoon salt
1 firm but ripe mango (or 4 peaches)
2 large bananas
2 Lebanese cucumbers
1 capsicum
2 spring onions
1 carrot
375ml can light evaporated milk (we used Carnation)
2 tablespoons desiccated coconut

Instructions

1 Cut fish into bite-sized cubes, place in a bowl and stir in the lemon juice. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight if you like your fish well marinated. Drain away the lemon juice.

2 Wash and cut the kumara into bite-size pieces. Boil in salted water for about 15 minutes until soft. Drain and set aside.

Ste[ 3 Wash and dice the peaches or mango, cucumbers, capsicum and spring onions. Peel and slice the bananas. Wash and grate the carrot. Add it all to the fish.

4 Mix the coconut into the evaporated milk, and add to the bowl. Serve immediately with kumara.

Variations

Traditionally Kiwis would use snapper, tarakihi or hoki fillets in this recipe, but go ahead and make it with whatever you catch. Scallops can also be used, and it’s up to you whether you remove the roe (the orange part).
You can use lime juice instead of lemon juice, or you can mix them half-and-half.
Taro works well in place of kumara.
Try garnishing the dish with chopped fresh herbs such as mint and Italian parsley.

HFG tip

Ika mata is a dish popular in the Cook Islands, Fiji and Samoa, traditionally made with coconut milk. We have replaced this with light evaporated milk to reduce the saturated fat content.
This dish makes a perfect light lunch or brunch, especially in warm weather.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 526cal

Kilojoules 2200kJ

Protein 37g

Total fat 8g

–Saturated fat 4g

Carbohydrates 70g

–Sugars 48g

Dietary fibre 7g

Sodium 390mg

Calcium 380mg

Iron 2.5mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.

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