Bluefish Escabeche Recipes

BLUEFISH ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Season the flour with salt and pepper and spread it on a plate. Dip the fish fillets in the flour to coat them lightly.
• Heat the oil in a heavy non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the fish a couple of minutes on each side until lightly browned. Transfer to a shallow serving dish that will hold them in a single layer. Drizzle with all but one tablespoon of the lemon juice.
• Lower the heat and add the leeks and garlic to the skillet. Cook over medium-low heat until they are tender. Stir in the tomatoes and continue to cook about five minutes longer, just until the tomatoes have softened. Remove from heat and stir in the capers and olives. Spread this mixture evenly over the fish, sprinkle with the remaining lemon juice and vinegar and scatter the basil leaves on top.
• Cover and set aside at room temperature up to three hours before serving, or refrigerate for six hours, then bring to room temperature.

SNAPPER ESCABèCHE

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the vinegar, pineapple juice, fish sauce, brown sugar and ketchup. Bring to a steady simmer and cook until reduced by almost half, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the scallions and bell peppers in a medium bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss. Grill until well marked and tender, about 2 minutes per side for the scallions and 3 minutes per side for the peppers.
• Score the skin side of the snapper fillets, making a few small slashes. Pat dry. Brush both sides of the fillets with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper. Lightly oil the grill grates. Grill the fish skin-side down, covered, until it's cooked around the edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook through, 3 to 4 more minutes.
• Cut the scallions into 3-inch pieces and cut the peppers into 1/4-inch strips. Divide the vegetables and fish among plates. Pour some of the sauce on top and serve the rest on the side. Serve with the rice.

ESCABECHE OF PACIFIC HALIBUT

Steps:

• Cut the halibut fillets into 4-ounce pieces no thicker than 1-inch each.
• In a large skillet over medium-low heat, heat the olive oil. Add the carrot, onion, celery, mustard seed and coriander seed. Sweat until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 7 minutes. Add the wine, vinegar and stock; bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper, stir in half the basil and half the chervil.
• Arrange the fish so it fits snugly in 1 layer in a casserole or baking dish. Pour the boiling marinade over the fish. The fish must be completely covered by the liquid, which will cook the fish as it cools. Allow to cool to room temperature, about 10 to 15 minutes. You can either serve immediately or serve chilled.
• Remove the fish from the liquid and reserve the liquid to use as a dressing. Plate the fish and garnish with the carrots, celery and onions. In a salad bowl, toss the lettuces and remaining basil and chervil with some of the dressing. Serve alongside the fish and vegetables.

ESCABECHE WITH MACKEREL

Steps:

• Put about 1/2 cup of the oil in a large nonstick skillet and turn the heat to medium-high. About 3 minutes later, when the oil is hot, dredge the fillets lightly in the flour and add them, one at a time, to the skillet. Do not crowd: it's likely you'll have to cook in batches. Sprinkle the fillets with salt and pepper as they cook. As the fillets brown, turn them and brown the other side. Total cooking time for each fillet will be about 6 minutes. When the fish are done, transfer them to a platter or gratin dish; they may overlap slightly.
• Cool the pan and wipe it out. Add the remaining oil and turn the heat to medium. A minute later, add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to turn color. Add the bay leaves, thyme, and cayenne and stir; add the vinegar, bring to a boil, and simmer for a minute. Add the wine, bring back to a boil, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the stock, bring back to a boil, and cook quickly to reduce the mixture to about half its volume.
• Pour the liquid over the fish. Let cool to room temperature and serve or cover and refrigerate for up to a couple of days, bringing it back to room temperature before serving.

FISH ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Season the fish with your favorite seasonings and dredge in flour to lightly coat.
• In a large skillet, heat 2-3 tbsp of the oil over medium heat.
• Fry the fish in batches 'til golden on both sides and almost, but not quite, cooked through. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• In another skillet, heat 3 tbsp of oil over medium heat.
• Add the onions, garlic, peppers, bay leaves, thyme, peppercorns, salt.
• Cook, stirring occasionally until the onions are soft, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the onion mixture from the heat and add the vinegar. Stir to combine and let cool.
• Lay the fish (in one layer if possible) in a glass or glazed ceramic dish. Cover with lemons slices and olives.
• Pour the cooled mixture over the fish, cover tightly, and refrigerate at least 12 and up to 24 hours. Eat cold.

FILIPINO FISH ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pat tilapia dry with a paper towel. Cut 2 to 3 slits on either side of the fish. Sprinkle salt on top. Fry in the hot oil until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add red bell pepper and ginger; saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Mix water, vinegar, and sugar together in a bowl. Pour into the onion mixture in the skillet. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add cornstarch. Boil, stirring often, until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour sauce over the fish.

RICK'S SEARED FISH IN ESCABECHE

Steps:

• In a large, well-seasoned cast-iron or nonstick skillet, heat 1/2 cup oil over medium-high heat. Pat fish dry. Working in batches if necessary, cook in a single uncrowded layer until brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn, and cook until second side is brown and fish flakes under firm pressure, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove to a plate, and set aside. Discard oil from pan.
• Reduce heat to medium, and add remaining tablespoon oil. When hot, add onions, carrots, and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent and carrots are almost soft, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine cloves and black pepper in a mortar and pestle or in a spice grinder, and process until coarsely ground. Add to vegetables, along with stock, vinegar, bay leaves, thyme, and cinnamon. Cover, and simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Taste; season with salt (about 3/4 teaspoon), and stir in jalapeno strips.
• To serve warm, lay fillets over simmering escabeche, cover, and gently heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Place one fillet on each of six plates, and spoon some of the escabeche over each one. Garnish with sprigs of thyme. To serve cool, arrange fish on a deep serving platter, and spoon escabeche over. As it cools to room temperature, the fish and vegetables will absorb much of the liquid.