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Fish, Africa and overseas

Trondro gasy with tomato sauce and rice

Trondro gasy is a Malagasy dish of fried fish simmered in a tomato sauce with garlic and ginger, served with rice. For 4 people, it takes 50 minutes and stays easy to make, for about €4.00 per serving. The key is frying the fish first, so it holds its shape once it goes into the sauce.

Tonight, trondro gasy, the Malagasy fried fish simmered in a tomato sauce with garlic and ginger, served with rice.

Trondro gasy with tomato sauce and rice
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€4.00
Calories per person
630 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Trondro gasy brings together soft, slightly tangy simmered tomato with the quiet kick of ginger and the punch of raw garlic stirred in near the end. Frying the fish first keeps it firm, so it stays in neat pieces in the sauce instead of breaking apart like many fish stews do. The rice served alongside soaks up that fragrant tomato sauce and ties the whole plate together.

This is a dinner that works on a busy weeknight, since none of the steps are tricky, but it also feels special enough for guests, since it's a change from the usual. Kids tend to like it too, the tomato sauce still tastes familiar even with the ginger and garlic in it. Mon Chou built this dinner for anyone who wants a fish dish that feels different, without extra fuss.

The ingredients

4 people

Fish counter

  • Hake or pollock fillets 700 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 4
  • Onions 2
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Fresh ginger 1 tbsp
  • Parsley 8 sprigs

Pantry

  • Wheat flouroften in the pantry 50 g
  • Long grain riceoften in the pantry 280 g
  • Sunflower oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Fish

The step by step recipe

  1. Season the fish with salt and pepper, dust it lightly with flour and shake off the excess.

    Dry fish flours much better before frying.

  2. Fry the fillets in 3 tablespoons of hot oil, 2 minutes per side, then set them aside. 6 min

    Only flip them once.

  3. In the same pan, cook the onions, garlic and ginger in the remaining oil, add the diced tomatoes and let simmer. 15 min

    Crush the tomatoes with the back of a spoon for a smoother sauce.

  4. Return the fish to the sauce and let it simmer gently. 8 min

    Spoon sauce over the fish without stirring, so it stays in whole pieces.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water, drain it and serve with the fish and parsley. 12 min

    Serve the fish in its sauce, the rice will soak it up.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick firm white fish fillets like cod or hake, they hold up better through frying and then simmering without breaking.
  • Let the floured fish sit on a rack for a minute before frying, extra flour burns fast and clouds the oil.
  • Start the tomato sauce while the fried fish cools slightly, it builds a better texture that way.

The variations

  • Swap the hake for cod or sea bream fillets, they stay just as firm after frying.
  • For a fish free version, use floured and fried eggplant slices instead of the fish.
  • To go faster with hungry kids, skip the frying step and poach the fish directly in the tomato sauce.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Lime wedges
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

Trondro gasy keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a closed container, fish and sauce together. It doesn't freeze especially well, the fried fish softens a bit once thawed. Reheat it gently in a pan or over low heat on the stove, stirring as little as possible so the fish stays whole.

Questions about this dish

Can you use a different fish instead of hake?

Yes, any firm white fish works, such as cod, sea bream, or pollock. Avoid delicate fish that tend to fall apart when fried.

Can you make the tomato sauce ahead of time?

Yes, you can make it a day ahead and keep it in the fridge. Warm it gently before adding the freshly fried fish.

Is this dish okay for kids given the ginger and garlic?

Usually yes, cooking mellows both the ginger and the garlic, and the tomato flavor still comes through the most. You can cut back on the ginger a little if your kids are sensitive to it.

Why flour the fish before frying it?

The flour forms a thin crust that protects the fish while frying and helps it keep its shape in the sauce. It also lightly thickens the tomato sauce once the fish goes back in to simmer.

How long does it take to make a trondro gasy with tomato sauce and rice?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a trondro gasy with tomato sauce and rice?

About 630 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a trondro gasy with tomato sauce and rice cost?

About €4.00 per serving, or €16.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, fish. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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