Fish Steaks Braised With Bell Peppers Olives And Lemons Food

FRIED PEPPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 sage sprigs, the zest of 1 lemon (in strips) and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a skillet over medium-high heat, 1 minute. Add 6 to 8 baby bell peppers; cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 8 smashed garlic cloves and cook 3 more minutes. Add 1 cup mixed olives and cook 2 more minutes. Transfer to a dish and serve with crusty bread.

SHEET-PAN ROASTED FISH WITH SWEET PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Pull 1 tablespoon thyme leaves off the bunch and finely chop.
• Season fish all over with a large pinch or two of salt and pepper and rub with chopped thyme leaves. Let rest at room temperature while you prepare peppers.
• Spread peppers on a rimmed sheet pan, and toss with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the black pepper to taste. Top peppers with the remaining thyme sprigs. Roast, tossing occasionally, until peppers are softened and golden at the edges, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees. Push peppers to the edges of the pan, clearing a space in the center. Lay fish out on that empty space and drizzle with oil. Scatter olives over the top of fish and peppers. Roast until fish turns opaque and is just cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make a vinaigrette by combining vinegar, garlic and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Whisk in remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, then whisk in parsley. Taste and add more salt or vinegar, or both, if needed. Serve fish and peppers drizzled with vinaigrette.

SAFFRON FISH WITH RED PEPPERS AND PRESERVED LEMON

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a bowl and sprinkle with the saffron strands. Use a spoon to press the saffron strands against the side of the bowl to release the flavor. Cover the bowl with a plate and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over low. Add the bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cilantro stems, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is transparent.
• Nestle the fish into the vegetables, sprinkle with the paprika, red-pepper flakes (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the prepared saffron water over everything. (You can do all of this in advance 1 day in advance, and refrigerate until ready to finish.)
• When ready to cook, add the olives and preserved lemon (if using - but if using fresh lemon, that will come in Step 5). Bring the mixture to a boil over high, reduce to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, basting the fish every 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the cilantro leaves during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Taste for seasoning and serve, setting the fish on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, if not using the preserved lemon. Serve warm or at room temperature.

MOROCCAN BAKED FISH WITH POTATOES, PEPPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Combine garlic, parsley, cilantro, cumin, paprika and saffron in a dish big enough for the fish. Mix vinegar, lemon juice and tomato paste in a small bowl. Add to dish and mix. Place fillets in the dish, turning to coat them, cover and set aside to marinate 2 hours at room temperature, 3 hours if refrigerated.
• Place potatoes in a saucepan, add water to cover, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Drain.
• Brush a baking dish that can go to the table and will hold the fish in a single layer with a little of the oil. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread potatoes in the dish, season with salt and pepper, and place fish fillets on top. Scatter peppers and tomatoes over fish. Add a little more salt and pepper. Spoon any excess marinade over fish, strew with olives, drizzle with remaining oil and bake about 30 minutes, until fish is just cooked through.

MOROCCAN FISH TAGINE WITH PEPPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Mix first 7 ingredients in medium bowl. Add fish and turn to coat. Refrigerate 2 hours, turning fish occasionally.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange carrot slices over bottom of 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Layer half of tomatoes, half of onion and half of lemon over. Season with half of salt and pepper.
• Drain marinade from fish; reserve marinade. Arrange fish atop lemon slices. Top fish with remaining tomato, onion and lemon slices. Season with remaining salt and pepper. Top decoratively with red pepper strips and olives. Pour reserved marinade over. Cover dish with foil. Bake 40 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 400°F. and bake until fish flakes easily and vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes. Garnish with additionally parsley.

BRAISED FENNEL WITH PEPPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Remove stalks and any browned outer layers of the fennel and cut each bulb into quarters lengthwise. Cut off and discard core from each piece. Holding the layers together, cut each fennel piece into one-quarter-inch slices lengthwise, to obtain long strips.
• Cut peppers in half lengthwise and remove core and ribs. Cut in half crosswise and cut each quarter into lengthwise strips about one-quarter inch wide.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Add fennel and salt and pepper to taste. Stir well. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Add peppers. Cover and continue cooking about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust seasonings but be cautious with the salt because the olives will add some saltiness.
• Transfer fennel and peppers to a platter, top with olives and serve.