Fish Escabeche Recipes

ESCABECHE (SWEET AND SOUR FISH)

Steps:

• Clean the fish and slit it open. Let it stand for few minutes and drain well.
• Sprinkle fish with 1 tbsp salt.
• In a medium skillet, heat the oil and fry the fish until brown. Remove the fish from the pan and set aside.
• In the same skillet, sauté the garlic until light brown, then sauté onion.
• Add salt and white pepper. Stir in ginger, scallions, carrot and red bell pepper.
• Add soy sauce, vinegar, water and sugar. Salt and pepper to taste.
• When the mixture boils, add flour to thicken. Then, add the fish.
• Cover the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes.

A CLASSIC ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine the cup salt with 4 cups of water, and stir to combine. Brine the fish in this mixture for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pan, and add the mashed garlic cloves, chile, and 2 bay leaves. Cook these aromatics in the oil over medium heat until the garlic browns, about 4 to 6 minutes. Do not let the garlic burn. Remove the aromatics and discard.
• Turn the heat up to medium-high, and cook the fish. You want a good sear , so if the fish is not cooking hot enough, turn the heat all the way up to high. Sear each side of the fish for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness. You don't need to cook the fish all the way through.
• Remove the fish to cool. Add the slivered onion, lower the heat to medium and cook until translucent. Remove to cool.
• Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan, turn the heat up to high, and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce by half, turn off the heat, and let cool.
• When everything is at room temperature, pour the sauce into a container, and add the fish and onions. Store in the refrigerator overnight to let the flavors marry.
• Serve cool or at room temperature.

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.

ESCABECHE OF TROUT

Steps:

• Combine the flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper in a gallon zip-top bag. Pat the trout dry and toss to coat in the bag with the seasoned flour.
• Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch saute pan set over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Carefully add the trout to the pan. Cook on each side for 1 minute.
• Using tongs or a fish spatula, transfer the trout to a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish. Reduce the heat to medium, add the onion, and cook until translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, thyme, coriander, paprika, white wine, vinegar, and lemon zest. Decrease the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and pour the marinade over the trout. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 1 hour before serving. Serve cool or at room temperature with the sauce and onions. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 12 hours.

ESCABECHE

Steps:

• Season fish with salt and pepper, and dust with flour. Heat a skillet and add canola oil to it. Saute the fish until brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and place in a deep pan.
• Remove some of the canola oil from the saute pan, and lower the heat to low, add all the vegetables and cook until soft and translucent. Add the ketchup and cook 1 more minute.
• Remove from the heat and add all other ingredients, except the avocado. Cover the fish with all ingredients and allow to cool to room temperature. Cover and place in refrigerator for 2 days. Serve with avocado slices.

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.