Stuffed Creole Flying Fish With Cou Cou Recipes

STEAMED FLYING FISH AND COU-COU

Steps:

• Make the Cou-Cou: Combine the water, okra, red pepper, salt, and hot sauce in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring, until very thick. Transfer half of the okra mixture to a bowl.
• Add 2 tablespoons of the butter to the okra mixture in the saucepan, and reduce the heat to low. While stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon, sprinkle in the cornmeal a little at a time, and cook until thick. Add the remaining okra mixture and 2 tablespoons butter and stir until smooth. Cover to keep warm.
• Make the Flying Fish: Rub the flesh side of the fish with the Bajan seasoning and lime juice, and season with the salt, to taste. Roll each fish up tightly and secure with a toothpick.
• Heat the butter in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and bay leaf and cook, stirring, until soft. Add the catsup, curry, mustard, and sugar and stir. Add the water, stir to combine, and bring to a simmer. Arrange the rolled fish in the skillet and cover with the bell peppers, tomato, herbs, and hot sauce. Cover and simmer until the fish is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt, to taste.
• Divide the cou-cou among the plates, make a well in each, and spoon the fish and sauce over the top.

BAJAN COU-COU

Steps:

• Soak cornmeal in water. Grate okra and cook in boiling water. When water is of a slimy consistency strain off okra and reserve. Place saucepan on medium heat, add cornmeal and stir continuously until hot. When cornmeal begins to tighten, add okra water still stirring until cornmeal is cooked. Stir in okra and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.;

FISH AND COUSCOUS STUFFED MEDITERRANEAN CABBAGE ROLLS

Steps:

• Homemade Greek Seasoning -- You can make a batch of this up and put in a small spice jar. Once you try this, you will always keep some on hand.: 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried mint, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion, 1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic. Options, you can add some lemon pepper, or marjoram, but that is my favorite combination that I use.
• Cabbage -- In a large pot, bring salted water up to a boil and add the cabbage. Blanch, or cook the cabbage just until the leaves are tender or no longer stiff and easy to work work. It should take about 3-4 minutes. Now don't get rid of that water, just turn it off for now. Once the cabbage is cool enough to handle remove the outer leaves, the ones that are soft and no longer stiff. As you get in to the smaller leaves they will be stiffer, so heat up the water to a boil and put the cabbage back in to finish blanching the remaining cabbage, just another 2-3 minutes. Once cool, take off the leaves.
• Set all the leaves off to the side to cool. And don't worry if they are all different sizes, that is just the way stuffed cabbage is. Each stuffed leaf will be a bit different.
• NOTE: Don't throw that water out yet. We use it one more time.
• Fish -- Now you can use a variety of methods, but since you already have hot boiling water from the cabbage, why get rid of it. I simply put a steamer basket (or you can use a colander or even a strainer; I have even used a small grate) over the top, cut my fish fillets into 3" pieces, easier to work with, and add to the steamer basket. Put a lid or foil over the top and just cooked until slightly tender, but not too long. Usually 4-5 minutes is all you need. Remove and let cool.
• Couscous -- Now you can use your favorite brand. Simply follow the directions on the package. My method is to bring a bowl of water up to a boil in the microwave. Remove, add the couscous, cover with plastic wrap and you are done. You want approximately 1 1/2 cups cooked couscous, a little more or less is fine. Just set to the side.
• Vegetable Filling -- In a medium saute pan, heat to medium high and add the olive oil. Add the peppers, onion, celery, and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion gets opaque. Then add in the scallions, parsley, Greek seasoning and olives and just stir to combine all the flavors. Remove to the side.
• Fish filling -- Take you fish and use your fork to flake the fish. I just roughly flake it, it will fall apart as you mix it with the other ingredients. To the couscous, just remove the plastic wrap or fork to "fluff up." Then add the fish, sauteed vegetables, lemon juice and zest, and the egg to the couscous. Mix well. Your filling is done.
• Sauce -- The sauce can simmer as you roll your cabbage leaves. In a medium to large pot bring to medium heat and add the olive oil and then the onions and garlic. Cook for just 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Deglaze the pan with the white wine and then add in the tomatoes and Greek seasoning. Stir well and then add in the artichoke hearts. Just reduce the heat to low and let it simmer.
• Rolls -- Now the fun part. Lay out the cabbage leaves and put a good spoon of the couscous mixture to the center of the leaf. I fold one end over (the smaller end), then tuck in the 2 sides, and finish rolling. Just like you would make a sandwich wrap. Secure with a toothpick and you are done.
• If you have any filling left, don't throw it out. Save it and reinvent it. Add some feta cheese and fresh tomatoes and serve as a cold salad over a bed of lettuce or stuff in a tomato for a quick healthy lunch or dinner.
• Casserole -- I like to bake mine in a large casserole dish, I add all the cabbage leaves and then top with the simmered tomato and artichoke sauce. In a 350 degree oven, cover and bake 30-40 minutes until the cabbage is very tender and all the filling reheats.
• Serve -- Make sure to serve 2-3 leaves per person and top with extra tomato sauce and the black olives as a garnish. Some crusty bread and you have a great dinner. I love to start with a bowl of creamy potato soup, I made earlier, so just reheat. It makes a nice Sunday Comfort Food Meal for a cold chilly day.

FLYING FISH AND COU COU RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Make the Bajan chopped seasoning: Add the onion, spring onions, garlic, ginger, Scotch bonnet, thyme, allspice, lime juice, salt, and black pepper to a food processor and process for about 1 minute, until it reaches a rough paste-like consistency, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vinegar and pulse 1 or 2 times, until incorporated. Transfer to a bowl and set aside until ready to use. Any leftover seasoning will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Season the fish: Place the sea bass fillets on a plate and pour the lime juice over them, then sprinkle with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Let marinate for 15 minutes while you make the fish stew.
• Make the fish stew: Heat the olive oil in a large, high-walled skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, red bell pepper, thyme, curry powder, and garlic powder, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes, until the vegetables are just starting to soften. Stir in the tomatoes and bring to a simmer, then add the butter, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the Bajan chopped seasoning. Stir until the butter melts and everything is incorporated.
• Nestle the fish into the stew until submerged halfway. Cover the pan and cook for 12-15 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily when tested with a fork.
• Make the cou cou: Add the okra, onion, thyme, and water to a shallow nonstick saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat and strain, reserving the liquid and the okra separately and discarding the onion and thyme.
• Place the same saucepan over medium heat and add the cornmeal. While whisking constantly, slowly pour the reserved liquid back into the pot. Whisk until smooth, then add the salt. Cook, continuing to whisk, for 6-8 minutes, until the cornmeal is thick with a consistency similar to firm mashed potatoes.
• Slice the okra pods on the bias.
• To serve, spread the cou cou onto a serving platter or individual dishes, then sprinkle the okra on top. Carefully lift the fish from the stew and place atop the cou cou and okra, then spoon the stew over the top. Garnish with parsley. Serve with a cold Guinness Extra Stout.
• Enjoy!