Mediterranean Grilled Whole Snapper With Fennel And A Pernod Butter Sauce Food

FENNEL SNAPPER IN PARCHMENT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Cut four large pieces of parchment paper into 14-inch hearts by folding the paper in half and cutting half of a heart shape (like you would to make a paper valentine). Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the fennel, kale, 2 tablespoons of the oil and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Open the hearts so the tip is facing toward you. Place two slices of orange on the right side of each heart, close to the center. Divide the vegetable mixture on top of each set of orange slices.
• Place a piece of fish on top of each mound and season each fillet with 1/8 teaspoon of the remaining salt and 1/8 teaspoon fennel pollen. Drizzle each piece of fish with 1/2 tablespoon of the remaining oil. Top each fillet with one of the remaining orange slices. Close the heart so it is now just a half of a heart and rotate it so the mound is facing you and the tip is away from you. Begin to make small folds, each one overlapping the last, around the edge of the package to seal the edges. When you get to the tip, fold the point under the packet. Place the packets on a baking sheet and cook until the packet is slightly brown and puffed, 12 to 15 minutes. Using scissors or a small pairing knife, cut open the top of the each packet carefully, as the escaping steam will be hot. Serve in the parchment packets for easy clean up.

SNAPPER WITH FENNEL, ONION AND TOMATO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Pat the fish dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper. In a large oven-safe saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onions and fennel until tender and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and herbes de Provence and cook until the tomatoes begin to soften, another 5 minutes. Increase the heat to high and deglaze the pan with the wine, chicken stock and lemon juice and let bubble for 1 minute.
• Nestle the fish fillets into the pan, sprinkle with salt and pepper and top each with a pat of butter. Place into the oven and cook until the fish is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Broil just until a bit crusty, about 1 more minute. Squeeze lemon juice on the fish and serve.

FISH SOUP WITH FENNEL AND PERNOD

Steps:

• Stage 1, pre-bedtime. Put onion, celery, garlic and fennel in a food processor, and pulse gently until chopped into a coarse paste.
• Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add coarsely processed vegetables to pan, and sauté, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons Pernod, and boil until almost evaporated. Add red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper.
• Pour in wine, and bring to a boil. Reduce for 2 minutes, and add tomato purée and chopped tomatoes. Bring to boil, stir, cover and remove from heat.
• Stage 2, post-bedtime. Return saucepan to medium heat until barely simmering. Gently slide mussels and fish into broth. Bring broth back to a simmer, and cook, stirring once or twice to give mussels room to open, until mussels and fish are cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Divide mussels and fish into warmed bowls. Pour soup over all, and scatter with fennel tops. Sprinkle with remaining teaspoon Pernod (skip Pernod if children are eating) and more olive oil. Serve immediately with crusty bread, if desired.

GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE SANDWICH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Brush eggplant and red bell peppers with 1 tablespoon olive oil; use more if necessary, depending on sizes of vegetables. Place on a baking sheet and roast in preheated oven. Roast eggplant until tender, about 25 minutes; roast peppers until blackened. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and cook and stir mushrooms until tender. Stir crushed garlic into mayonnaise. Slice focaccia in half lengthwise. Spread mayonnaise mixture on one or both halves.
• Peel cooled peppers, core, and slice. Arrange eggplant, peppers and mushrooms on focaccia. Wrap sandwich in plastic wrap; place a cutting board on top of it and weight it down with some canned foods. Allow sandwich to sit for 2 hours before slicing and serving.