Whole Snapper With Pearl Onions And Chiles Recipes

WHOLE SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• In a large sauté pan over moderate heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and sauté, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add 3/4 cup wine and the bay leaves and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering until the onions are tender and the wine is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the butter then remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the lemon juice.
• Arrange the snappers, side by side, in a 12- by 18-inch or larger roasting pan. Stuff the cavity of each fish with about 1/4 cup of the onion mixture, along with the whole garlic, tomato slices, and celery. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon the remaining onion mixture over the fish then pour half the lime juice on and around the fish and add 2 cups of water to the pan. Wrap the pan snugly with foil and roast for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue roasting until the fish is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove any onion from the top of the fish then carefully transfer the fish to a large serving platter (do not discard the onion or juices remaining in the pan). Drizzle the remaining lime juice over the fish and cover loosely with foil to keep warm.
• Scrape the onion and juices from the roasting pan into a medium saucepan. Add the remaining 1/4 cup white wine and 1/4 cup water, and bring to a simmer. Continue simmering until slightly reduced, then pour through a fine-mesh strainer.
• To Serve:
• Garnish the fish with cilantro and serve with the reduced pan sauce and lime wedges.

JUMBO SHRIMP STUFFED WITH CILANTRO AND CHILES

Steps:

• Prepare an outdoor grill with a medium-high fire. Without removing the shells, slit about 3/4 of the way through the shrimp down the ridged back and remove the vein that runs down the center. Rinse and pat the shrimp dry. Whisk thyme leaves, lime juice, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and black pepper, to taste, in a shallow nonreactive bowl or dish. Lay the shrimp cut side down in the lime mixture and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• In a food processor, pulse the garlic, jalapeno, scallions, remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to make a coarse paste. Add the cilantro and pulse just enough to incorporate into the mixture. Spoon the mixture into the opening in the shrimp and close the shrimp. Grill the shrimp shell side down (to keep filling from falling out) for 3 minutes. Turn to the other shell side, cover, and grill another 2 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and are slightly firm to the touch. Sprinkle with salt and serve.
• Jumbo shrimp in the shell can be a knife and fork sort of deal unless you're outside and it's summer and you are feeling very relaxed. Serve these with lots of napkins if your crowd is the peel-and-eat type.

LIGHT SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH ROASTED CHILES

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Put the poblano cut-side down on a baking sheet and broil until the skin is browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool 5 minutes. Peel the skin off the poblano under cold running water, then chop into small pieces.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly butter a 2-quart baking dish. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, garlic and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes, chicken broth, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring gently, until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Arrange half of the potato-broth mixture in the prepared baking dish in an even layer. Sprinkle with half each of the roasted poblano and parmesan. Repeat with the remaining potato-broth mixture, poblano and parmesan. Bake until bubbly and slightly golden, about 35 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Thin some crema or sour cream with water and serve alongside for topping.

PICKLED RED ONIONS AND FRESNO CHILES

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, lime juice, orange juice, sugar and 2 teaspoons salt in a small saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
• Pour the hot mixture over the Fresno chiles and onions in a heat-proof bowl and allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving, or allow to cool completely and refrigerate until ready to use.

HALIBUT CEVICHE WITH GRAPEFRUIT AND CHILES

Steps:

• With a very sharp knife, cut the halibut into thin broad slices. Place in a bowl, and toss with the lime juice and grapefruit juice. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes
• Meanwhile, cut the grapefruit in half, at the equator, and using a grapefruit knife, cut out pieces of grapefruit. Slice each piece in half, the long way
• When ready to serve ceviche, drain the liquid completely from the halibut, and discard liquid. Add grapefruit pieces to the fish, along with garlic, red chiles, green chiles, and mint. Toss gently. Divide among 6 plates, laying out the strips of halibut flatly on each plate. Season with coarse salt, sprinkle with hot sauce, and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.
• Recommended Wine: Frexinet Brut Cava Cordon Negro

BAKED WHOLE RED SNAPPER WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Place 24x18-inch piece of foil on heavy large baking sheet. Butter foil. Place fish in center of foil. Season cavity of fish with garlic, lemon juice and seafood seasoning. Dot cavity with butter. Arrange thyme sprigs inside cavity. Sprinkle outside of fish with salt and pepper. Top with lemon slices. Fold edges of foil over fish; seal. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake fish until cooked through, about 45 minutes. Transfer fish to platter. Open foil.

BAKED SNAPPER WITH CHILIES, GINGER AND BASIL

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil.
• Stuff the cavity of the snapper with 1/2 cup basil leaves and set aside. Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet over high heat until it begins to smoke. Place the snapper in the skillet, and quickly brown on both sides, about 1 minute total. Place the fish into the roasting pan, and sprinkle with fish sauce. Reserve the peanut oil in the skillet.
• Bake fish in preheated oven until the flesh flakes easily with a fork, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining peanut oil over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, ginger, chile peppers, and yellow pepper and cook until the peppers have softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar, rice vinegar, water, and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat until thickened to desired consistency. Pour the sauce over the snapper, and garnish with the remaining basil leaves to serve.

RED SNAPPER GRILLED ON LEMON, HERBS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Season the inside and outside of the fish by rubbing in the garlic,and sprinkling on salt and pepper.
• Place some herbs and garlic inside of fish.
• Brush the surface of the hot grill with olive oil.
• Place onions, some herbs and lemon slices on grill.
• Place fish on top of lemons and onions.
• Close grill top.
• Cook for about 10 minutes then carefully remove fish to platter then flip onions and lemons place other side of fish on lemons and onions and cook for 10 more minutes to desired doneness.