Grilled Lime Pompano Recipes

WHOLE GRILLED FISH WITH LIME

Steps:

• Build a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill, or heat a gas grill to medium-high. Score fish: Cut 1 slash lengthwise down to the bone, then crosswise in 2 places, spacing apart; repeat on other side. Season fish cavity and skin with salt; drizzle fish with 1/4 cup oil. Stuff some of the lime slices (reserve a few for garnish) and herb stems inside fish.
• Clean and oil grill grate well. Grill fish, resisting the urge to turn it, until skin is nicely crisp and charred and flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone. (This can take 6-15 minutes, depending on size of fish. Don't mess around with it until it's ready.) Place a metal spatula underneath fish (a pair of metal tongs on top of fish also helps for support), then lift and gently roll over to the other side. Cook until flesh is flaky and opaque down to the bone, 6-15 minutes. Use a small knife to check for doneness; if it slides easily through the thickest part of flesh, fish is done. If not, finish cooking fish on grill or in a 450°F oven.
• Place fish on a serving platter; drizzle oil and lime juice over. Garnish with reserved lime slices, basil leaves, and cilantro.

GRILLED LIME POMPANO

Steps:

• Preheat grill to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking dish with aluminum foil. Place dish in the grill, away from direct heat.
• Drop coconut oil onto the foil and close grill long enough to melt oil. Place fish in the oil and turn until it is coated in oil on both sides; season with salt and pepper. Close grill.
• Cook on the grill until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes. Carefully transfer fish and foil onto a plate and slide fish off the foil. Squeeze lime juice over fish.

GRILLED GOLDEN POMPANO WITH SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill so you have a hot and cool side. Lightly oil the grate.
• Toss sweet potatoes, 1 tablespoon olive oil and Cajun seasoning in a bowl until well combined. Put sweet potatoes in a grill wok and place on the hot side of the grill. Cook until almost done, turning occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes. Move grill wok to the cool side of the grill.
• Clean pompanos and coat inside and outside with remaining olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and place 1 orange slice, 1 lemon slice, and 3 basil leaves into the cavity of each fish.
• Place fish directly on the grill grates on the hot side of the grill. Close lid. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Turn and continue cooking until fish easily flakes with a fork, 5 to 7 minutes more.

GRILLED POMPANO AND SHRIMP WITH LEMON, OLIVES, AND BAY LEAVES

Steps:

• Prepare grill. Soak skewers in warm water 30 minutes.
• With a sharp knife slit skin of pompano along center of each piece to keep skin from curling when grilling. Shell shrimp, leaving tail and connecting shell segment intact, and thread 4 shrimp onto each skewer. Brush shrimp and pompano all over with additional olive oil.
• With a sharp knife cut ends from lemons. Standing each lemon on a cut side, cut rind and pith from lemon, exposing flesh. Cut lemon segments free from membranes. Discard coarse stems from spinach. Flatten olives, a few at a time, with flat side of a large heavy knife to loosen pit from flesh and discard pits. In a small saucepan stir together olives, extra-virgin olive oil, bay leaves, and a pinch salt.
• Season shrimp and pompano with salt and pepper and grill on a lightly oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until just cooked through, about 3 minutes on each side. (Alternatively, grill seafood in a hot well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat.) Transfer seafood with tongs to a platter and keep warm, covered. Heat olive mixture over low heat until warm.
• In a 12-inch skillet heat remaining tablespoon olive oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté spinach, stirring and turning it with tongs, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season spinach with salt and pepper.
• Serve seafood over spinach, topped with lemon segments and olive mixture.

STEAMED POMPANO WITH GINGER-LIME HOLLANDAISE

Steps:

• Grate the zest off the lime and set aside. Squeeze the juice into a blender jar. Add the egg yolks, cayenne and a pinch of salt. Set aside.
• Pour two cups of water into a large saucepan. Place a trivet or flat steamer rack inside. Arrange the fillets on a heat-proof plate, skin side down, and sprinkle with the lime zest, ginger and salt to taste. Place the plate on the steamer, cover the pot and bring to a boil. Steam until the fish is just cooked, about seven minutes. (If the fillets are too big, you will have to do this in two stages or in two pots.)
• While the fish cooks, melt the butter in a small saucepan and keep it very hot.
• Remove the fillets from the steamer plate and pour the cooking liquid into the blender; this gives the sauce extra flavor. Blend for 10 seconds, then, with the motor running, add the hot butter in a slow, steady stream. Season with more salt if you like. Spoon the hollandaise over the fish and serve at once.