Sesame Seed Crusted Snapper Food

SESAME CRUSTED FISH

Steps:

• Marinate fish in the soy and sesame oil for 15 minutes.
• Drain and dust the fish in flour.
• Dip into the egg and then roll in the sesame seeds.
• Deep fry the pieces in 360 degree oil for 4 or 5 minutes. No longer -- the sesame seeds scorch easily and will be bitter.
• Make a simple dipping sauce with some soy sauce diluted with about a 50/50 ratio of water and some fresh grated ginger. Delicious!
• You may need to cook this in two batches so that the temperature of the oil doesn't plummet. The oil needs to maintain a constant 360 temperature if possible.

SESAME-CRUSTED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 deg. F.
• Heat oil in a nonstick pan.
• Brush fillets with the egg whites and season with salt and pepper.
• Coat thickly on one side only with the sesame seeds.
• Saute in oil, seed side down, until golden brown.
• Place seed side up on a cornmeal sprinkled baking pan and bake at 400 deg. until done - this will depend on the thickness of your fillets, probably will take about 5 minutes.
• Or, you can just turn over and panfry until done.
• Note1: Chef recommended grouper or red snapper; I've made this also with tilapia.
• Note2: Baking is really handy if you are making a larger quantity - that way you can finish all the fillets at the same time.

SESAME-CRUSTED, PAN-SEARED SCALLOPS WITH ASIAN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl add ginger, garlic, green onion, cilantro, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy, 1 tablespoon of canola oil, and sake. Whisk ingredients together.
• Place 1 teaspoon of vinaigrette in each soup spoon.
• Season scallops with salt and pepper.
• Place sesame seeds on a plate. Pat down top and bottom side of each scallop in sesame seeds.
• In a saute pan, over medium-high heat add remaining tablespoon oil. When oil is hot, add scallops, placing them sesame-crusted side down. Sear for approximately 1 minute, or until sesame seeds brown. Turn and sear on other sesame-crusted side for 1 more minute. Place 1 scallop in each soup spoon. Serve immediately.
• * The same serving format can be achieved with only 4 spoons by replenishing each guests spoon for subsequent servings.
• Recommended beverage: cold sake

SESAME-CRUSTED FISH WITH BUTTER AND GINGER SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Heat large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Put seeds on plate. Season fillets with salt and pepper and turn in seeds, patting to coat fillets as fully as possible with seeds. Add oil to skillet and when it shimmers add fillets.
• Brown fish on 1 side for a couple of minutes, then brown on other side for a minute or two. Remove skillet from heat, transfer fish to plate (even if not done) and place plate in oven.
• When skillet has cooled slightly, put over medium heat. Add butter, and when it melts add ginger. About 30 seconds later, add soy sauce and 1/4 cup water and stir to blend. Return fillets to skillet, along with accumulated juices.
• Turn heat to medium and cook fillets for about 1 to 3 minutes until desired doneness, turning 3 or 4 times. (If the pan dries out, add 2 or 3 tablespoons water.) Fish should be done when a thin-bladed knife meets little resistance at fillet's thickest point. Serve pan juices over fish.

SESAME-CRUSTED TUNA

Steps:

• In a dry skillet on medium heat, toast the white sesame seeds until they are just beginning to turn light golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat and spread seeds on a plate. Add the black sesame seeds to the plate if using, and stir seeds around with fingertips to combine.
• Brush the tuna pieces on all sides with olive oil. Season on all sides with salt and pepper, and dip tuna pieces in the seeds, pressing to coat on all sides. Set aside on a wax foil lined cookie sheet.
• When ready to cook, heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium high in the skillet. When oil is hot, add the butter, when the butter foams, add the fish to the skillet. Let cook without moving the fish for about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the sesame crust begins to crisp and brown. When the crust is golden brown, turn the fish and cook until the other side is golden brown and crisp, about another 2 minutes, adding additional butter if needed to keep the fish from sticking and speed up the browning. Once the second side is browned, turn the fish pieces on edge with tongs, to brown the remaining sides.
• Remove from heat and set aside. Fish will be medium rare at this point. If you prefer fish more well done, place the ban with the fish in a 375 degree F oven for another 3 to 5 minutes.
• To serve, slice each portion in half and place on the pasta bed with the edges overlapping. Sprinkle with finishing salt, if desired.

SESAME CRUSTED RED SNAPPER WITH GINGER DRESSED SNAPPY VEGGIES AND CURRY COUSCOUS WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• In a salad bowl, combine the ginger, jalapeno, vinegar, salt and pepper. In a slow steady steam, whisk in 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add the radish, cucumber, yellow pepper and toss to coat. Let the veggies sit and marinate at room temperature while you prepare the sesame crusted snapper.
• Place a medium saucepan on the stove. Add the sliced almonds and toast over moderate heat then remove from pan and reserve. Return pan to stove top and add the chicken broth, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil -- just eyeball it, curry powder and cinnamon. Raise heat and bring broth up to a boil. When it boils, add couscous to the pot and stir to combine. Cover the pot and turn off the heat and let the couscous stand until ready to serve.
• With a sharp paring knife, score the skin side of the snapper fillets by slashing 3, 1/8- inch thick cuts across the width of the fish. Season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper. Sprinkle and then gently press the sesame seeds onto both sides of the fish. Heat a nonstick large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 2 turns of the pan. Once the pan is hot, add the seasoned fish to the skillet skin side down. Saute the snapper for 4 minutes and if you find that the fillets bubble up in the center section, carefully press each fillet down with a fish spatula. Flip the fillets and continue to cook on the second side for 3 minutes or until the fish is cooked through and opaque. While the fish is cooking on the second side, finish off the ginger dressed snappy veggies and prepare the couscous.
• To the marinating vegetables, add the watercress and basil. Toss to combine.
• Remove the lid on the couscous. Add scallions and toasted almonds and fluff couscous with a fork.
• To serve, distribute the snappy veggies between 4 plates and top with the sesame crusted snapper; serve the couscous alongside.