Baked Whole Fish In Garlic Chili Sauce Recipes

THAI BAKED FISH IN GARLIC & CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Stir all marinade/sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.
• Place fish on a cutting board and score it by making vertical cuts an inch or more apart along the length of fish from head to tail. Turn fish over and do the same on the other side.
• Place fish on a large piece of tin foil or banana leaf. Make sure the foil or leaf is big enough to cover/wrap the fish.
• Drizzle 3 tablespoons (or more) of the marinade/sauce over each fish, covering both sides. Be sure to spoon some into the cuts you've made, as well as into the cavity. Reserve the rest for later.
• Stuff the cavity of the fish with lemon slices and some of the basil and cilantro. (approx. 1/4 to 1/2 cup).
• Bring the long sides of the foil up and over the fish, scrunching it together. Try to keep the foil off the surface of the fish, making a kind of shallow tent over it. Also fold up each end and scrunch to secure. If using banana leaf: Simply fold the sides and ends of the leaf over fish to cover it. With banana leaf, you actually want the leaf to come into contact with the fish, as this adds to the flavor.
• Bake the wrapped fish on a baking sheet or tray and place in the oven. (Fish wrapped in banana leaf will require a dish or tray, as banana leaf is permeable.).
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or longer, depending on the size and thickness of your fish.
• Remove fish from oven and check some of the deeper cuts to see if inner flesh is cooked. If fish still needs more time, return to your oven for up to another 8-10 minutes, or until cooked.
• To finish the fish, remove from oven and open up the foil, scrunching it around the fish to create a kind of bowl. For banana leaf, simply open up the leaf.
• Pour remaining marinade over fish and return to the oven. Turn oven on "Broil" setting, and broil for approximately 5 minutes, or until the fish is nicely browned and crisp-looking. Banana leaves will become quite brown and fragrant. (keep an eye on it it during the broil to keep it from burning).
• Remove from the oven and serve the fish with fresh coriander and basil. Add lemon wedges or slices. (or put fresh lemon slices on top & slices on the side).

GRILLED WHOLE FISH WITH ROASTED TOMATO-CHILE SAUCE

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Line heavy large skillet with foil. Place tomatoes and chiles in skillet; cook over medium-high heat until skins begin to blister and blacken in spots, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes for tomatoes and 10 minutes for chiles. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Peel tomatoes; transfer to processor. Add chiles, onion, and garlic. Blend until coarse puree forms. Transfer sauce to bowl. Stir in cilantro, parsley, and salt. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)
• For fish:
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Rinse fish inside and out with cold water; pat dry. Open fish flat, like a book. Rub fish inside and out with oil; sprinkle inside with oregano, salt, and pepper. If grilling, place fish, opened flat, in grill basket. If broiling, place fish, opened flat, on oiled rimmed baking sheet. Grill or broil fish just until opaque in center, about 6 minutes per side.
• Using spatula, transfer fish to platter. Sprinkle with lime juice; serve with tomato sauce and warm corn tortillas.

BAKED WHOLE FISH IN GARLIC-CHILI SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees, OR warm up your barbecue/grill. Stir all marinade/sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside. Place fish on a cutting board and score it by making vertical cuts an inch or more apart along the length of fish from head to tail. Turn fish over and do the same on the other side. If Grilling the Fish: See below. For Baked Fish: Place fish on a large piece of tin foil or banana leaf. Make sure the foil or leaf is big enough to cover/wrap the fish. (For more information on banana leaf, see my: All About Cooking With Banana Leaves.) Drizzle 3 Tbsp. (or more) of the marinade/sauce over each fish, covering both sides. Be sure to spoon some into the cuts you've made, as well as into the underside cavity. Reserve the rest for later. Bring the long sides of the foil up and over the fish, scrunching it together. Try to keep the foil off the surface of the fish, making a kind of shallow tent over it. Also fold up each end and scrunch to secure. If using banana leaf: Simply fold the sides and ends of the leaf over fish to cover it. With banana leaf, you actually want the leaf to come into contact with the fish, as this adds to the flavor. Bake the fish (in foil) directly on your oven rack. Or - if you're worried about spillage, place wrapped fish on a baking sheet or tray and place in the oven. Fish wrapped in banana leaf will require a dish or tray, as banana leaf is permeable. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or longer, depending on the size and thickness of your fish. Remove fish from oven and check some of the deeper cuts to see if inner flesh is cooked (it should be opaque, not pink or translucent-looking). If fish still needs more time, return to your oven for another 8-10 minutes, or until cooked. To finish the fish, remove from oven and open up the foil, scrunching it around the fish to create a kind of bowl (see photo). For banana leaf, simply open up the leaf, which will have become drier and slightly crispy.