Pescado Frito (Dominican Beach-Style Fried Whole Fish)
Whole red snapper scored, rubbed with garlic, lime and oregano and fried until the skin is crackling and the flesh flaky. Served Boca Chica style with tostones and a fresh salad.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Score the fish
With a sharp knife, cut 3-4 deep diagonal slashes down to the bone on both sides of each fish. This helps it cook evenly and lets the seasoning get into the flesh.
- 2 whole fish (about 700 g each) whole red snapper
✅ Done when: cuts reach all the way to the bone
Season
Mix the garlic, lime juice, salt, oregano and black pepper into a paste. Rub it all over the fish and into the cuts, then let it sit for 20 minutes so the flavor soaks in.
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- juice of 1½ limes lime juice
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
✅ Done when: fish is fully coated and has rested 20 minutes
Dust
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Fry
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Serve
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Score the fish
With a sharp knife, cut 3-4 deep diagonal slashes down to the bone on both sides of each fish. This helps it cook evenly and lets the seasoning get into the flesh.
- 2 whole fish (about 700 g each) whole red snapper
✅ Done when: cuts reach all the way to the bone
Season
Mix the garlic, lime juice, salt, oregano and black pepper into a paste. Rub it all over the fish and into the cuts, then let it sit for 20 minutes so the flavor soaks in.
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- juice of 1½ limes lime juice
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
✅ Done when: fish is fully coated and has rested 20 minutes
Dust
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Fry
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Serve
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The Story Behind the Dish
Boca Chica, a beach town east of Santo Domingo, is famous for its line of fried fish stalls, where you choose a fish from the ice and it's fried while you wait.
Fried whole fish with tostones is the classic Dominican beach lunch, eaten with your fingers by the sea.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Crackling skin, juicy flesh and a squeeze of lime: it's the taste of a Dominican day at the beach.
💡 Fun Fact
Dominicans say the crispy tail and fins are the best part, and they're often fought over.
Boca Chica
18.45°N, -69.61°W
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