Spicy West Indies Fish Recipes

SPICY WEST INDIES FISH

Steps:

• Soak the fish in lime juice for 30 minutes in a glass pan or non-corrosive dish.
• Remove the fish, reserving the juice.
• Combine the curry powder, cumin, paprika, allspice, ginger, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl and stir until well blended.
• Place each fish fillet on an individual sheet of aluminum foil.
• Coat each fillet with the spice mixture.
• Sprinkle a tablespoon of the lime juice over each piece of fish.
• Wrap each fillet tightly in the foil.
• Remove the rack from the grill and lightly oil it with vegetable oil where the fish will placed.
• Make a fire in the grill and heat the coals until they become somewhat white with ash.
• Place the fish packets on the grill and cook for 5 minutes.
• Turn the fish packets and cook for another 3 minutes.
• Open a packet to see if the fish is done. The flesh should be opaque and the skin should pull away from the flesh; flakiness is usually a sign of overcooking.

SAMAKA HARRA (SYRIAN SPICED FISH)

Steps:

• In a mortar, pound the garlic and salt together until mushy. Put the chili peppers and onion in a food processor and chop finely. Add the tomato and process in bursts until it is chopped. Remove to a medium-size bowl and stir in the pounded garlic, tomato paste and cumin. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Rinse the fish and pat dry with paper towels. Score the fish in three places on each side. Lay the fish in a baking pan and coat with the olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover with the chili pepper sauce. Bake the fish until the dorsal fin feels as if it will come off with a tug, about 1 hour, basting with the accumulated olive oil in the baking pan. Sprinkle with the coriander and serve.

ESCOVITCHED FISH

Steps:

• Rinse the fish with a mixture of water and lime juice, pat dry, and then score the fish on both sides with a sharp knife. Salt and pepper the fish inside and out. Lightly dust the fish with flour. Heat 1/2-inch of oil in a skillet. Fry the fish in a single layer until golden and crisp. When all the fish are done, set aside. Pour off some of the oil leaving just enough to saute the onions until softened. Then add the Scotch Bonnet and red peppers, saute 1 minute more. Pour the onion mixture over the fish. In the same skillet bring water, vinegar, and sugar to a boil. Immediately pour over the fish. Let cool and refrigerate.

JACQUES-IMOS' BLACKENED GULF FISH

Steps:

• Lightly sprinkle the fish with the Creole Seafood Seasoning.
• In a hot cast-iron skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Sear the fish on both sides until the flesh is opaque about 3 minutes each side.
• Combine the Hollandaise Sauce with chili-garlic sauce, chipotle powder and crabmeat.
• Serve each fillet with 1/4 cup sauce.
• Combine all the ingredients and mix. Store in a sealed container.
• Melt the butter and margarine in a 1-quart saucepan over low heat. Raise the heat and bring to a rapid boil. Remove from the heat and cool, about 5 minutes. Skim the foam from the top and discard. Pour the butter into a large glass measuring cup and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a medium stainless steel mixing bowl or in the top of a double boiler, combine all the remaining ingredients. Mix together with a metal whisk until blended.
• Place the bowl over a pan of slowly simmering, but not boiling, water. The bowl must never touch the water. Vigorously whisk the egg mixture, picking up the bowl frequently to let the steam escape. Whip until the egg mixture is very light and creamy and has a sheen, 6 to 8 minutes. This amount of beating is important so that the cooked eggs will better be able to hold the butter. Remove the bowl from the pan of hot water. Gradually ladle about 1/4 cup of the butter mixture (use the top butterfat, not the butter solids on the bottom) into the egg mixture while vigorously whipping the sauce. Make sure the butter you add is well mixed into the sauce before adding more. Continue gradually adding the surface butterfat until you've added about 1 cup.
• So that you can get to the butter solids, ladle out and reserve about 1/2 cup surface butterfat into the sauce, whisking well. Use any remaining bottom solids in another dish. Then, gradually whisk in enough of the reserved top butterfat to produce a fairly thick sauce. The butterfat thickens the sauce, so you may not need to use it all. Serve immediately (or as soon as possible, keeping the sauce in a warm place, such as on top of the stove, until ready to serve).

SPICY WALLEYE WITH VEGETABLES AND BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• Coat fish fillets with seasoned flour. In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add fish and fry on both sides until crispy and brown. (You will probably have to fry fish in 2 batches.) Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• In the same pan, melt butter. Add vegetables and saute over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Meanwhile, heat whipping cream and basil in a small saute pan until thickened.
• To serve, place vegetables on plate, top with fish, and drizzle with basil cream.

SPICY WEST INDIES BBQ MARINADE/SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and let sit to blend for about 30 minutes.
• Use as a marinade/grilling "sauce" for fish, chicken, pork or even vegetables.

WEST INDIES FISH CAKES WITH CURRY AIOLI

Steps:

• You can prepare the aioli in advance if you wish (just keep it refrigerated).
• Place all ingredients for the curry aioli in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth and creamy; set aside.
• Mix all ingredients for fish cakes together (except oil and lemon slices) in a mixing bowl until blended.
• Adjust water or flour, if necessary, to achieve a consistency similar to pancake batter (or just a tad thicker).
• Heat 1-2 inches cooking oil in a large skillet until hot.
• Spoon or drop approximately 1/4 cup fish cake batter into hot oil and cook about 2-3 minutes per side or until golden, puffy, and firm.
• Do not overcrowd pan.
• Drain fish cakes on paper toweling.
• Serve fish cakes hot with curry aioli or tartar sauce, and lemon slices, if desired.