Grilled Black Drum Food

BRONZED BLACK DRUM

Steps:

• Combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl. Season each side of each fillet evenly with 1/2 teaspoon of the seasoning mix. Place the vegetable oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat just until the oil just begins to smoke, about 3 to 4 minutes. Place the fillets in the pan, drizzle with butter, and cook, turning once, until they are just cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. The fillets are done when they flake easily.

BLACKENED DRUM

Steps:

• For the sweet potatoes: Heat a large skillet over high heat until smoking hot. Add the grapeseed oil and then the sweet potatoes. Allow the potatoes to sear for 2 to 3 minutes and then turn the heat down to medium. Toss the sweet potatoes and cook until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Add the molasses, chili powder and cayenne and toss to coat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• For the green beans: Bring a large pot of water (seasoned with 2 tablespoons salt per gallon of water) to a rolling boil. Prepare an ice bath to shock the beans. Add about one-quarter of the beans to the boiling water (you don't want to add so many beans that the water loses the boil) and cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the beans from the water with a skimmer and shock in the ice bath. Repeat until all of the beans are cooked. Remove the beans from the ice bath and dry with a towel.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Melt the butter and then add the green beans. Saute the green beans until tender and slightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• For the blackened drum: Combine the blackening spice and salt, reducing or omitting the salt as needed (taste the spice mix first as some brands already have salt added). Spread the spice mixture on a plate and coat each side of the fish fillets.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add the grapeseed oil, gently lay the fish in the skillet and sear until the spices have blackened and formed a nice crust on the fish, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently flip the fish and sear on the second side for 3 to 4 minutes more. Remove from the pan and allow the fillets to rest for a few minutes before plating.
• For serving: Mound some of the sweet potatoes in the centers of 6 plates. Place the green beans on top of the sweet potatoes and then top each plate with a fillet of fish. Top the fish with some Herb Butter and serve while the butter is melting over the hot fish.
• Combine the butter, lemon juice, lemon zest and parsley in a bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

CAJUN BEER-BASTED RED DRUM ON THE GRILL

Steps:

• Send DH out to set a medium fire in grill.
• Rinse filets & pat dry. Sprinkle cut sides with garlic & pepper, pressing them gently onto filets.
• In small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat & add 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and Cajun seasoning, garlic, onion, green pepper, parsley.
• Stir & sauté until onion translucent & sauce darkened & slightly thickened. Do not burn garlic - it will become bitter & spoil baste.
• Add bottle of beer, 2nd tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce & simmer 15 minutes on medium-high heat.
• Lay filets onto oiled grill grates or place on oiled aluminum foil over grill grates ( I prefer this so I can sop the filets without flareups & ash). Cook 20 minutes (or 1 cold beer) over low-medium heat, raising lid only to baste generously. Done when thickest area of fillet flakes easily. Enjoy!