Arabian Gulf Style Fish In Banana Leaves Food

ARABIAN GULF-STYLE FISH IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium or a large grill pan over medium. Rinse fish under cold water; pat dry. Coat the interior and exterior of the fish with ghee. Season the fish all over with salt and pepper. Place the herb sprigs inside the cavity of the fish and sprinkle the exterior with the chopped herbs; set aside.
• Wipe any dirt or dust off of banana leaves with a damp cloth. Place leaves, overlapping one another, on a clean work surface with long ends parallel to edge of work surface. Leaves should overlap by about 3 inches. Position the fish vertically in the center of the leaves, folding one edge of the leaves over to cover the fish. Then roll to wrap the fish completely with leaves and tuck ends under.
• Place wrapped fish on grill and cook for 15 minutes. Carefully flip wrapped fish and cook until leaves are charred and fish is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• To serve, unwrap the fish and transfer to a platter. Top with celery and herb salad; serve with lime wedges.

LEMON GRILLED FISH IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium.
• In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice with ½ cup olive; add thyme, salt and pepper.
• Brush both sides of fillets generously with lemon mixture and place each in a banana leaf.
• Place 4 lemon slices and a sprig of thyme on each fillet.
• With the short side of the leaf facing you, fold bottom edge over fish; fold sides over fish, then fold package away from you to envelop the fish.
• Secure each packet with 3 wet toothpicks or tie like a girtbox with a wet piece of string.
• Cook the fish packets on grill, about 6 minutes per side ( the leaves will brown, which is OK).
• While the fish grills, sauté garlic in 1 Tbs olive oil over medium-high heat about 1 minute.
• Add the onions through tomatoes and sauté about 5 minutes until vegetables are tender; season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, put a fish packet in the center of each plate, open the leaf and spoon vegetables around fillet.

STEAMED FISH IN BANANA LEAF

Steps:

• Prepare a bamboo steamer or a double boiler with a perforated insert. Fill bottom with water and bring to a boil. Reduce to low and simmer. Cover until ready to use.
• Meanwhile, to prepare fish: Season fish with salt and freshly cracked pepper on both sides. Lay banana leaves out. Place a fillet in the middle of each. Sprinkle with the garlic, and cumin seeds. Top with a lime leaf or grated zest. Wrap banana leaf around fish like a parcel and tie with butcher's twine.
• Steam fish until centre of fish is warm when a knife is inserted in the middle of fillet, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from steamer immediately and serve with Spicy Oil Drizzle.
• Place extra virgin olive oil, garlic, coriander, japalpeno and lime juice in a small saucepan. Warm gently on low heat until fish is ready. Do not heat rapidly! Drizzle over fish.

HALIBUT OR OTHER FISH STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Put at least 2 inches of water in the bottom of a steamer. Soak the banana leaves in hot water until soft, just a few seconds.
• Toss together the fish, garlic, ginger, nam pla, sugar, and cayenne. Put a piece of the seasoned fish in the center of each of the banana leaves and top with shallot, cilantro, and a light sprinkling of salt. Fold in the sides of the leaves and seal shut with toothpicks or skewers.
• Steam for about 15 minutes, or until the fish is done (peek into one of the packages to check). Be careful of the steaming liquid when removing the packages. Remove each of the fish pieces from its package before serving and spoon some of the juices over it.
• Lemongrass Halibut (or Other Fish) Steamed in Banana Leaves
• In step 2, toss the fish with 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoons minced lemongrass, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, and the nam pla and sugar. Put it in the packages as directed and top with the shallots, 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives or scallion, and 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, preferably Thai basil. Seal and steam as directed.