Red Mullet Baked In Grape Vine Leaves Recipes

RED MULLET BAKED IN GRAPE (VINE) LEAVES

Steps:

• Rinse the fish under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Season with salt and pepper, brush with a little oil, and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C/Gas Mark 4) and brush an ovenproof dish with oil. Combine the garlic and parsley in a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and divide the mixture among the cavities of the fish. Wrap each fish in 1 or 2 grape leaves, depending on its size, leaving the heads and tails uncovered. Put the fish into the prepared dish, pour the oil and lemon juice over them, and place a slice of lemon on each. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily, and serve immediately.

FISH BAKED IN VINE LEAVES

Steps:

• In a large, shallow ceramic or glass baking dish, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, chopped fennel leaves, salt, and pepper. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and add to the marinade, turning to coat evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator 15 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Spread 3 or 4 vine leaves on a work surface, overlapping them to form a large, sturdy wrapper. Place a few slices of fennel in the center. Cover with a fish fillet and scatter a few more slices of fennel on top. Top with a half lemon slice and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap the fish in the vine leaves and lay it, seamside down, in a large baking dish. Repeat with the remaining fillets, placing them in a single layer in the dish.
• Bake 20 to 30 minutes, until the fish is opaque throughout; open one package to check for doneness. Immediately transfer to serving plates and have guests unwrap the fish at the table.

ROAST RED MULLET WITH TARRAGON & PANCETTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Slash the red mullet through the flesh to the bone 3-4 times on each side. Mix the chopped tarragon with 2 tbsp of the oil and the garlic, season lightly, then brush over the fish, taking care to push some of the tarragon into the slashes of the fish. Marinate for 10 mins.
• Put the pancetta and red onion into a large roasting tin, drizzle with remaining oil and cook in the oven for 5-7 mins or until beginning to soften. Arrange the fish on top and drizzle with the vinegar. Roast in the oven for 12-15 mins or until the fish is cooked; the eye will be white and the flesh will flake when prodded.

MY OWN FAMOUS STUFFED GRAPE LEAVES

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, saute the rice, onion, dill, and mint for about 5 minutes, or until onion is soft. Pour in 1 quart of broth, reduce heat to low and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until rice is almost cooked. Stir in 1/2 of lemon juice and remove from heat.
• Take one leaf, shiny side down, and place 1 teaspoon of the rice mixture at the bottom (stem) end of the leaf. Fold both sides of the leaf towards the center, roll up from the broad bottom to the top, and place into a 4-quart pot. Repeat with all leaves, leaving no gaps as leaves are placed in pot (to prevent from opening while cooking). Sprinkle with remaining lemon juice and with olive oil.
• Pour chicken broth over all to cover grape leaves. Cover pot and simmer for about 1 hour (do not boil, because this will make the stuffing burst out of the leaves). Remove from heat, remove cover and let cool for 1/2 hour. Transfer to serving dish and serve.

RED SNAPPER IN VINE LEAF

Steps:

• Score a cross at the base of each tomato. Place the tomatoes in boiling water for 10 seconds, then plunge into cold water and peel each down from the cross. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Finely chop the flesh, then place the tomatoes in a sieve over a bowl and leave to drain for 30 minutes to remove the excess moisture. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Discard the drained liquid, then place the tomatoes in the bowl and add the garlic, anchovies, parsley, basil and olives. Season with salt and pepper.
• Season the fish well inside and out, then stuff each fish with 1/2 tablespoons of the tomato mixture.
• Rinse the vine leaves well and pat dry. Place two vine leaves together slightly overlapping. Divide the remaining tomato mixture into 4 portions. Spread half of one portion over the vine leaves, place a fish on top and spread the other half of the filling portion over the fish. Fold the leaves over to form a parcel, leaving some of the fish head and tail exposed. Repeat to make the other three parcels.
• Mix the oil and lemon juice in a small bowl. Place the fish parcels on a non-metallic baking dish and brush all over with the lemon and oil, especially the tails, which burn easily.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then carefully lift onto serving plates and garnish with lemon wedges.