Traying a Bake and Shark in Trinidad

Bake and shark is a very popular street food in Trinidad and Tobago. It's one of those must-try tastes for visitors to the twin-island republic. For locals, a week without eating bake and shark would just seem unnatural. And no, it's not "bacon shark," as some visitors believe when they first hear the name spoken aloud.

Bake refers to fried dough. It's made of all-purpose flour, baking powder, a pinch of salt and a little grease — preferably butter — brought together with water.

The dough is rested, then it's divided into 3-inch balls, rolled into flat discs, and fried until they puff up. The inside of the bake is hollow so it's the perfect receptacle for stuffing. Think of it like a Trinidadian version of a pita.

Shark is ... well, shark, but not the huge ones we see in movies and on television. These are much smaller. They're skinned, deboned and sold already filleted. The shark is seasoned with green seasoning, salt, and pepper, then it's breaded and pan-fried. Blacktip shark is traditionally used, but it's not always available. Sometimes tilapia, kingfish, skates, grouper or catfish might be substituted. In fact, if you're a bit squeamish about eating shark, you can usually request one of these variations. The best bake and sharks are made with firm white fish when the shark isn't available — but rest assured that somehow the best vendors manage to get their hands on fresh shark meat.

The bake is cut open and the fried shark is tucked inside, making a delicious "sandwich."

A bake and shark at Maracas Bay is truly an experience for both tourists and locals alike. In my list of things to do before you die I would say “Having a Bake and Shark at Maracas Bay” should be high up on the list. By the way, this one has already been crossed off more times than I could remember. And, I may have a few hundreds more crosses before I Die.

Spanish Version

Estimados amigos de Steemit, hoy quiero compartir con ustedes algo que me gusta mucho hacer: probar nuevas comidas en el mismo lugar de origen y con la gente que lo prepara.

Hoy les traigo una comida tradicional de Trinidad y Tobago. Se trata del Bake and Shark.

Con solo verlo en la foto se hace agua la boca.

Espero les guste y tengan la oportunidad de probarlo

Saludos