Grilled Achiote Rubbed Fish Recipes

WHOLE GRILLED ACHIOTE STRIPED BASS WITH SPICY PICKLED RED ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high.
• In a medium bowl add the orange juice and the lime juice. Stir in the achiote paste, cumin, oregano and salt. Mix into a smooth paste. Rub the paste all over inside and outside of the fish. Drizzle both sides of the fish liberally with vegetable or canola oil. Put the fish on the grill. Grill until golden, about 4 minutes and then carefully flip the fish over. Grill until the fish starts to separate when lifted with a spatula. Fish will be golden brown with some charring.
• Lay the fish on a large platter. Cover with pickled red onions, sliced avocado and chopped cilantro and serve family style.
• To make the Pickled Red Onions:
• Add the sliced onions to a medium-size bowl large enough for the onions to be spread out into a thin layer. Juice the limes into the bowl, then add the chopped chile and salt. Stir to combine. Allow to sit at room temperature for 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight. Onions are ready when they are bright pink and softened. Their flavor will be sweet and spicy with a little texture but not crunchy.
• Yield: about 1 cup

PESCADO EN ACHIOTE (MEXICAN FISH IN ANNATTO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine 3/4 cup water, achiote paste, onion, juice of 2 limes, juice of 1 orange, vinegar, garlic, 1 teaspoon oregano, salt, and pepper in a blender; blend until smooth.
• Season both sides of the fish fillets with salt and pepper, then brush the top with melted butter. Arrange fish fillets in a baking dish. Add shrimp on top and cover with achiote sauce. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 30 minutes.
• Place red onion and habanero peppers in a glass bowl. Add 1 cup water, juice of 1/2 orange, and juice of 1 lime; stir well and season with salt, peppercorns, and Mexican oregano.
• Serve fish and shrimp with achiote sauce and top with habanero sauce.

YUCATECAN -STYLE GRILLED MAHI-MAHI

Steps:

• Place fish in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk achiote paste and next 7 ingredients in medium bowl. Pour achiote mixture over fish; turn to coat. Cover and chill 1 hour.
• Prepare barbecue (high heat). Brush shiny side of banana leaves with 2 tablespoons oil; place each on baking sheet, oiled side down (some of leaf will hang over edge of sheet). Arrange 2 fillets with marinade still clinging crosswise in center of each banana leaf, spacing 2 inches apart. Drizzle wine around fish in leaves. Top each fillet with 1 bay leaf and 1 sprig of fresh epazote or parsley or 1 pinch of dried epazote. Fold overhanging edges of banana leaf over fish to enclose loosely. Transfer fish from baking sheet to grill, folded edges up. Cover and grill until fillets are just opaque in center, about 10 minutes.
• Open banana leaves. Transfer fish to plates. Garnish with tomato and lime slices. Serve with Yucatecan Pickled Onions and Habanero-Tomato Salsa.

YUCATáN FISH

Steps:

• Make the pickled onions: Put onion in a bowl and season generously with salt and pepper. Add serrano, 3 tablespoons orange juice and 2 tablespoons lime juice, then mix well. Set aside for at least 15 minutes. Combine and reserve remaining citrus juice for marinade.
• Make the marinade: Put achiote, cinnamon, oregano and chipotle in a small stainless steel or glass bowl. In a small dry skillet over medium heat, lightly toast cumin, cloves and allspice until fragrant, 1 minute or less. Grind toasted spices to a powder in a spice mill or mortar, then add to other spices. Add garlic, 1 large pinch salt and remaining citrus juice and stir to make a paste. If very thick, add more lime juice. (Note: achiote may stain surfaces or clothing.)
• Season fish on both sides with salt and pepper. Using a sharp knife, score skin at thickest parts, if desired. Paint fish on both sides with marinade. Squeeze a little lime juice over fish. Chill for 45 minutes (or up to 2 hours).
• Bring fish to room temperature and heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut banana leaves crosswise into footlong lengths and soften by passing them briefly over a stovetop burner. Rinse leaves and pat dry. Lay a double thickness of leaves on a baking sheet and lay fish on it, skin-side down. Top fish with a large handful of pickled onions. Arrange tomato wedges over onions. Sprinkle with salt and a little more lime juice. Lay more leaves on top, then wrap like a package, tying with string or strips of leaf. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove and let package rest, unopened, for 15 minutes. Serve with remaining pickled onions.

HERB-RUBBED GRILLED FISH

Steps:

• Using a mortar and pestle, crush 1/2 cup fennel fronds, black and pink peppercorns, garlic, and parsley to a paste. (Or pulse in a food processor.) Stir in 2 tablespoons oil. Rub mixture over fish, inside and out; stuff fish with more fennel fronds, herb sprigs, and greens. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand 30 minutes.
• Preheat grill to medium. Season fish generously with salt and pepper. Brush a fish-grilling basket with oil; place fish inside and secure. Grill, covered, turning once, until fish is opaque and flakes when tested with the tip of a knife, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss fennel bulbs and chiles in a bowl with salt and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Grill until fennel and chiles are lightly marked and tender (if they start to burn, shift to a cooler area of grill). Arrange fish on a platter; surround with lemon, potatoes, fennel, and chiles (chiles should be eaten with caution). Drizzle with herb sauce; serve immediately.

COFFEE-RUBBED GRILLED FISH

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill or heat an indoor grill pan to medium-high, ensuring the grates are very clean. Using a sharp knife, score the fish with four diagonal slashes through the skin on both sides.
• Mix the coffee, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, ancho, cumin, brown sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Pat the fish very dry with paper towels, then drizzle with the oil and rub over the skin. Sprinkle the coffee rub all over the exterior and cavity of the fish and massage the seasoning into nooks and crannies.
• Oil the grill grates or pan. Place the fish on the hot, greased grates, and cover, if using a gas grill. Grill, turning once, until skin is browned and crisp and the flesh is opaque, 5 to 6 minutes per side. The crisped skin should naturally release from the grate when turning and removing the fish. If it doesn't, let it sit until it does. If it's still stuck, carefully pry the skin off the grate with a spatula. Season to taste with salt, and serve right away with lime wedges.

SWORDFISH WITH ACHIOTE AND ORANGE

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients except for the fish, oil, tortillas, and garnish in a large bowl. Toss the fish cubes in the mixture and marinate for at least 3 hours.
• Remove the fish from the marinade, shaking off any excess liquid; discard the marinade. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat and sauté the fish on all sides until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
• To serve, lay the tortillas side by side, open face and overlapping on a platter. Divide the shredded lettuce and filling equally between the tortillas and top with salsa and a squeeze of fresh lime. Grab, fold, and eat right away. Or build your own taco: lay a tortilla, open face, in one hand. Add some shredded lettuce, spoon on some filling, and top with salsa and a squeeze of fresh lime. Fold, and eat right away.

TRADITIONAL ACHIOTE RECADO

Steps:

• In a small saucepan bring water and achiote seeds to a boil.
• Cook seeds, covered, at a bare simmer 30 minutes and remove from heat.
• (Steep seeds 2 hours, or until softened.) Heat a dry comal or flat iron griddle over moderately low heat until hot and pan-roast garlic and onion, turning them occasionally to ensure even roasting, until browned and soft throughout, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Discard garlic skins.
• In a small heavy skillet dry-roast oregano over moderate heat, shaking skillet occasionally, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 2 minutes and transfer to a small bowl.
• Cool oregano completely and in an electric coffee/spice grinder grind fine.
• Drain seeds and in a blender or food processor blend with garlic, onion, oregano, and remaining ingredients until smooth.
• Recado may be made 5 days ahead and chilled and covered.

GRILLED ACHIOTE-RUBBED FISH

Steps:

• Heat a grill or grill pan coated with olive-oil cooking spray until very hot. Combine the lime juice, achiote paste, oregano, garlic, and black pepper in a bowl; stir until combined.
• Spread marinade over each fillet, coating evenly; set aside about 5 minutes. Place fish on grill; cook until flaky and opaque, 6-8 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking. Serve immediately with quick tomato salsa and red-onion and cabbage escabeche.