Red Snapper Marinated With 3 Kinds Of Chilies In Banana Leaves Food

RED SNAPPER GRILLED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Combine the cilantro, mint, chiles, ginger, scallion, coconut, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a blender and pulse to make a coarse paste. Add the coconut milk, lime juice, vegetable oil and fish sauce and blend to make a smooth, slightly thick sauce. Season with salt. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Make the fish: Preheat a grill to medium high. Lay the banana leaves on a work surface, overlapping each about halfway, so the leaves are large enough to wrap around the fish, with the tail and head sticking out slightly. Lightly brush the banana leaves with vegetable oil. Cut three 24-inch pieces of kitchen twine and run under water to moisten (this will prevent the twine from burning on the grill).
• Make 2 or 3 slits crosswise on each side of the fish, cutting about 1/2 inch into the flesh. Season the fish inside and out with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt total. Stuff the lime and ginger slices, chiles, and cilantro and mint sprigs into the cavity of the fish. Set the fish at one short end of the banana leaves and roll it up, leaving the head and tail sticking out, then tie together in 3 places with the kitchen twine.
• Once the grill registers 425˚ F to 450˚ F, grill the fish until the banana leaves are charred, about 12 minutes. Flip and grill until the fish is cooked through, 12 to 14 more minutes. (Because the fish is wrapped, it is difficult to test for doneness. The juices will run clear from the head and gills when poked.) Let the fish rest 5 minutes, then untie and remove the banana leaves. Lift the flesh from the bones and serve with the cilantro-mint sauce.

GROUPER ROASTED IN BANANA LEAVES WITH ORANGE-PINEAPPLE RELISH AND RED BEANS AND RICE

Steps:

• Grouper: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rub each fillet with olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Wrap each fillet in a banana leaf, envelope style and place seam sided down on a baking sheet. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes. Place the packets seam side up on a platter and fold back the sides of the banana leaf to expose the fish. Place a few tablespoons of the relish on top and garnish with mint, cilantro and peppers.
• Red Beans and Rice: Heat oil in a large Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, garlic and green onions and cook until soft. Add the soaked beans, ham bone, bay leaf, thyme, red pepper and 3 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 1 1/2 hours or until the beans are soft. Season with salt and pepper. Place rice in a large bowl and add the bean mixture. Mix to combine and fold in cilantro.
• Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

RED SNAPPER STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Place a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water. If desired, add herbs to the boiling water to add flavor to the dish (basil, thyme, oregano, lemon peel, etc).
• In a small bowl, combine the ginger, soy sauce, garlic and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste, then set aside.
• Rinse the fish filet then pat dry. Cut into three portions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place a piece of snapper in the center of a banana leaf. Top with one third of the cherry tomatoes and 3 clams. Drizzle a third of the marinade over the fish. Fold the banana leaves around the fish to form a packet, then tie with twine to hold it together. Repeat with the remaining fish pieces.
• Place the packets into the steamer basket. Cover the steamer and steam for 15 minutes.
• Serve with rice or sweet potato mash (the white kind).

MARINATED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Heat the water, bell peppers, carrots, onions, vinegar, olive oil, ginger, bay leaves, 1 T. salt, and the red pepper flakes in large saucepan over high heat to boiloing. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer covered until vegetables are crisp-tender, 7-10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat vegetable oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Brush fish with lime juice; season with salt and pepper. Brown fillets in batches in oil, about 1 minute each side. Transfer to large heatproof dish.
• Pour hot vegetables over fish and let cool to room temperature, 1-1/2 hours. Remove bay leaves.
• To serve, spoon some vegetables onto platter, place fish over vegetables, and top with remaining vegetables. Serve at room temperature.

EPIS-MARINATED GRILLED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Combine the cider vinegar, scallion, roughly chopped onion, celery, roughly chopped green and red bell peppers, shallot, garlic and 1 Scotch bonnet pepper in a blender (see Cook's Notes). Blend on high until finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Add the cilantro, culantro and thyme and pulse until finely chopped. Add the 1/2 bunch parsley and pulse until finely chopped.
• Drizzle in the olive oil and process until smooth and bright green, about 1 minute. Set aside 1 cup of the epis and place in the refrigerator. Keep the remaining sauce for another use (refrigerate it in an airtight container for up to 5 days).
• Cut 3 to 4 diagonal slits on each side of the fish. Squeeze both the lemon halves over the fish; massage the juice into the inside and the outside of the fish as well as into the slits. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons salt. Cover the fish with cold water in a deep baking dish or large bowl. Pour in the white vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes. Rinse and pat dry.
• Mix the 3/4 teaspoon remaining salt, the all-purpose seasoning, garlic powder, cayenne, black pepper and allspice in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture into the slits and inside the fish. Rub the reserved 1 cup of epis all over the fish. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
• Just before you're ready to cook, place the banana leaves on your counter until defrosted, about 20 minutes. Soak the twine in a small bowl of warm water.
• When ready to cook, prepare a grill for medium-high heat.
• Place the 2 pieces of twine perpendicular to each other, the longer piece horizontally and the shorter piece vertically. Place one large piece of banana leaf horizontally on top of the twine, making sure it's centered. Place 2 long pieces of banana leaf vertically on top of the horizontal piece.
• Layer the thinly sliced onion and thinly sliced green and red bell peppers in the center of the banana leaf and lay the fish on top. Place lemon slices in the slits of the fish and one bay leaf in each slit that is facing up. Place the remaining lemon slices in the cavity. Poke the whole cloves into the remaining Scotch bonnet and place it in the fish's head. Roll up one side of the banana leaf from left to right making sure to tuck the flap under the vegetables. Roll the second side of the banana leaf from right to left, making sure to tuck it under the fish tightly. Fold the banana leaf flap from bottom to top under the fish. Repeat folding from top to bottom. Grab the twine and tightly tie the packet lengthwise and widthwise, sealing the fish in. Brush both sides of the packet with vegetable oil.
• Place the fish on the grill and cook on both sides until the leaves are charred, 15 to 18 minutes per side. Remove it from the grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. Cut the twine and banana leaf open to release steam. Serve the fish sprinkled with the chopped parsley.

YUCATAN MARINATED HALIBUT GRILLED IN BANANA LEAVES WITH ORANGE-PINEAPPLE RELISH

Steps:

• Heat grill to high. Whisk together juices, oil, and chili powders in a medium baking dish. Add the halibut and turn to coat. Marinate for 5 minutes.
• Remove the banana leaves from the water and shake off excess water. Place the leaves on a flat surface. Remove the halibut from the marinade, season with salt and pepper, and place 1 fillet in the center of each leaf. Wrap the banana leaf loosely around each fillet. Place the packets flat on the grill, close the cover, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until just cooked through. Carefully remove from the grill and serve the fish in the banana leaf, if desired. Serve fish with the Orange-Pineapple Relish.
• Whisk together the lime juice, orange juice, chile de arbol, honey, and oil in a medium bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before serving.