Blackened Fish With Quick Grits Recipes

BLACKENED SNAPPER WITH CREAMY GRITS AND SOUTHERN COMFORT BARBECUE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat a cast iron skillet over high heat for about 10 minutes. Melt butter in the skillet and then pour onto a plate. Dip each fillet in butter so that each side is coated. Sprinkle 1 side of each fillet with blackening seasoning. Place in hot skillet, seasoned side down, and then sprinkle other side generously with blackening seasoning. Cook about 2 minutes or until the underside looks charred. Turn and cook about 2 more minutes or until done.
• Spread creamy grits on 4 plates. Squeeze barbecue sauce in diagonal lines over grits. Place fish on top. Garnish with lemon wedges.
• Combine all spices and mix well.
• Bring heavy cream and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add butter, and salt and pepper. Slowly stir in grits and reduce heat. Cook approximately 20 minutes on low heat, stirring frequently. Set aside.
• Cook bacon to 3/4 done. Add peppers and onion and saute until tender. Carefully flame with Southern Comfort. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes. Let cool and transfer to squeeze bottle.

BLACKENED FISH WITH QUICK GRITS

Steps:

• Prepare the fish: In a small bowl, whisk together the sweet paprika, black pepper, thyme, oregano, garlic powder, salt and cayenne. Pat the fish fillets dry, then sprinkle enough seasoning over both sides of the fillets to completely coat. Reserve remaining seasoning for another use. Allow the fish to sit for 15 minutes at room temperature.
• While the fish sits, make the cheese grits: Bring the chicken stock and salt to a boil in a large saucepan over high. Add the grits while whisking and reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Allow the grits to thicken, about 5 minutes or so, then stir in the milk, butter and cheese. Season with black pepper and more salt to taste. Keep over the lowest heat possible until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, cook the fish: Heat a large cast-iron skillet with the olive oil and butter over medium-high. Add the fish fillets, and cook until the spices are darkened and aromatic, and the fish flakes easily with a fork, 2 to 4 minutes per side.
• Divide the grits among serving dishes and nestle the fish on top. Garnish the grits with more shredded cheese and the whole dish with the scallions. Serve immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing over the fish.

BLACKENED FISH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together paprika, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, cumin, black pepper, white pepper, thyme and salt; set aside. Heat a heavy cast iron pan on high heat until extremely hot, about 10 minutes.
• Pour 3/4 cup melted butter into a shallow dish. Dip each fillet into butter, turning once to coat both sides. Sprinkle both sides of fillets with spice mixture, and gently pat mixture onto fish.
• Place fillets into hot pan without crowding. Carefully pour about 1 teaspoon melted butter over each fillet. Cook until fish has a charred appearance, about 2 minutes. Turn fillets, spoon 1 teaspoon melted butter over each, and cook until charred. Repeat with remaining fish.

GRITS AND GRUNTS

Steps:

• First, prepare the grits. Bring the water and salt to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Whisking the whole time, add the grits in a steady stream. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes, or until the grits have bloomed and are creamy. Stir in the butter and taste for salt. Keep warm.
• Fry the bacon in a large sauté pan over medium heat, until crispy. Remove the bacon to paper towels to drain. Add the onion to the pan and sauté in the bacon fat until soft. Keep warm.
• Coat the fillets thoroughly with Cajun seasoning and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Heat the butter in a large clean sauté pan or in the bacon pan over medium-high heat. Add the fish fillets and fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until just cooked through. While the fish is cooking, crack the eggs into the pan and fry alongside the fish, or fry in a separate skillet if the pan is not large enough to accommodate both.
• Spoon the grits into two large shallow serving bowls and sprinkle with the bacon and sautéed onion. Top each with 2 fish fillets and crown with an egg. Lay the sliced avocado and tomato on the side and season with salt and pepper.