How-To Braai Snoek

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1. 1Step 1: Have your snoek cleaned and ready for marination: gut the fish, remove the head, tail, and fins, and make shallow diagonal cuts along the sides.
2. 2Step 2: To prepare the marinade, mix the apricot jam and finely chopped or crushed garlic in a bowl. If you're adding other ingredients like lemon juice or herbs, mix them in at this stage. The consistency should be such that it can be easily brushed or rubbed onto the fish.
3. 3Step 3: Apply the marinade generously over the snoek, ensuring it gets into the cuts and covers both sides of the fish. Some prefer to let the fish marinate for a while, others cook it immediately.
4. 4Step 4: Select wood like Rooikrans or Kameeldoring for heat consistency and flavor. Build your fire and let it burn down to a bed of hot coals.
5. 5Step 5: Once your coals are ready, glowing red with a thin layer of ash, place the snoek on the grill, skin side down.
6. 6Step 6: Monitor the snoek as it cooks. It is perfectly cooked when the flesh turns opaque and begins to flake easily. Depending on heat and thickness, this could take 10 to 20 minutes.
7. 7Step 7: Turn the snoek only once during cooking. Frequent flipping can cause the fish to break apart and lose its juices.
8. 8Step 8: Baste the snoek with the marinade or a mixture of butter and herbs during cooking to add flavor and keep it moist.