CHEF JEFF — ONE BYTE AT A TIME: Marinated Fish

Marinated fish is popular in the Philippines. This recipe highlights the tropical flavors of garlic, ginger, coconut and chili peppers.

Marinated Fish

½ pound fresh fish fillet

Rice vinegar (about ½ cup)

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 chilies

1 medium onion, sliced into thin rings

3 or 4 green onions, chopped

1 small piece of fresh ginger, minced

½ cup coconut vinegar (see note)

2 medium firm, ripe tomatoes, chopped

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Rinse the fish, cut into bite-size pieces and marinate in rice vinegar to cover for 30 minutes to an hour. Drain and combine with remaining ingredients. Chill, covered, in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Drain and serve.

Yield: Serves 4 as appetizer or may be served like a salsa with chips.

Note: For coconut vinegar, soak 1 cup of grated coconut in 1 cup vinegar for 30 minutes. Strain, squeezing to extract all vinegar, and discard the coconut.

Grab more food tidbits at the Chef Jeff blog at GrandForksHerald.com.