Step 1:First of all, you have to wash the fish with lemon (or lime) and vinegar. After the fish is washed, drain any excess water. Then mix ¾ teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of black pepper. Rub this mixture all around the fish.
Step 2:Take a frypan over high heat and put it in the cooking oil. Add the garlic that you chopped (not the crushed ones), the whole bonnet pepper, and 5 of the pimento berries. Next, add the fish and fry on both sides until it turns golden brown.
Step 3:After the fish is fried, take the pan off the flame. Carefully remove the fish, pepper, garlic, and berries from the pan. Then pour the oil out, until only a tablespoon of it is left in the pan.
Step 4:Put this frying pan over low flame and add the chopped bonnet pepper, the rest of the pimento berries, the crushed garlic, scallion, the chopped tomato, bell pepper, onion, and thyme. Sauté this mixture for 2 to 3 minutes.
Step 5:Add a cup of water and the browning sauce to the mixture. Stir this sauce and cover the pan. Leave it to simmer for about 5 minutes then add the fish and pour the sauce over the fish using a spoon. Cover again and let it simmer for 5 more minutes.Then it is ready to serve.
Notes
Note from STEP NO 3: Keep the fish ready, it will be used again later.