Make Jacaranda FM’s Philicity Reeken’s Famous Hake And Prawn Skewers With Cucumber & Pineapple Salad This Valentine’s Day

 Jacaranda FM’s Philicity Reeken has always said that her love language is preparing a hearty meal for someone from scratch.

Although without a Valentine this year, Philicity fully embraces the spirit of love around this time of year.

When asked what she would cook for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner this year, Philicity admits that her famous Hake and Prawn Skewers with Cucumber and Pineapple Salad instantly came to mind.

“When it comes to something like a Valentine’s Day dinner, I wanted to make something different, exciting and, importantly, something easy that could be made by couples together. This meal is for the new lovers, the tired moms and dads and the couple who are rediscovering their love for each other.”

Philicity adds “Because we live in South Africa and it’s currently 9 gazillion degrees no one wants to eat heavy food.

Start a little braai and cook the skewers over a flame, make the salad the day before so you have time to stare into each other’s eyes and realise that to love and be loved is a precious thing! Ps: I’m terrible with measurements so a dash of this and a pinch of that is all you’ll get from me. The best thing to do is taste as you go.”

Ingredients:

Skewers:

• 3 prawns per person (with heads attached)
• 1 fillet of hake (approximately 400g) or frozen skinless medallions
• Baby onions
• Baby tomatoes
• Sweet paprika peppers

Salad:

• Cucumbers
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Sliced mangetout
• Sweet paprika peppers

Dressing:

• Lime juice
• Red wine vinegar
• Chopped red chili (deseeded if preferred)
• Oil

Skewer Sauce:

• Oil
• Fish spice
• Prawn spice
• Liquid smoke

Sides:

• Pita bread
• Tzatziki spread

Preparation:

• Chop all the salad ingredients into bite-sized pieces and mix lime juice, chopped chili, red wine vinegar, and oil for the dressing. Refrigerate the dressing.
• For the skewers, alternate hake, peppers, prawns, and onions. Brush with the skewer sauce and grill for about 5 minutes on each side or until you achieve char lines.
• Serve the skewers with hot pita bread smeared with tzatziki and the refreshing cucumber and pineapple salad.

This delicious recipe, curated with love by Philicity Reeken, combines the tantalising flavours of the sea with the fresh zest of tropical fruits. Philicity’s approach to this meal goes beyond the mere act of cooking; it’s about creating an experience that celebrates the shared moments between lovers.

The simplicity of the recipe ensures that even those with a modest level of culinary skill can prepare a meal that looks sophisticated and tastes divine. This meal is not just about feeding the body but nurturing the soul and the bonds of love that tie us together.

Listen to Philicity Reeken on ‘Breakfast With Martin Bester’ every weekday between 06:00 and 09:00 on Jacaranda FM.