Whole Baked Fish Cuban Style Recipes

WHOLE BAKED FISH CUBAN-STYLE

Steps:

• Rinse the fish well under cold running water and pat dry on both sides as well as inside the cavity.
• Make several slits about 1/3-inch deep on both sides of the fish.
• Place the fish in a non-reactive shallow dish or platter and pour the lime juice over the fish.
• Set aside while you continue with the preparations.
• Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
• Rub the bottom of a shallow glass or ceramic dish large enough to hold the fish with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
• Saute 1/2 of the onion slices and 1/2 of the pepper slices in 2 tablespoons olive oil and then place along the bottom of the baking dish.
• Tear 2 of the bay leaves into small pieces and sprinkle over the vegetables.
• Drizzle with 2 tablespoons more of the remaining Spanish olive oil and season with salt, black pepper, to taste, and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Place the fish on top of the sliced vegetables.
• Using a mortar and pestle, combine the garlic, kosher salt and oregano and mash to form a paste. (We used a small food processor.).
• Spread the garlic paste inside the cavity of the fish and into the slits on top.
• Place the remaining bay leaf inside the cavity of the fish.
• In the same small bowl that you used to make the garlic paste, combine the tomato puree and vinegar and stir to combine.
• Pour this tomato mixture all over the fish.
• Top with the remaining onion and pepper slices and drizzle the remaining olive oil and the wine over the top.
• Season again with salt and black pepper, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil, and bake until the fish flakes easily when pierced with a fork, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Garnish with the parsley and serve hot or warm, with the pan juices drizzled over all.
• Serve with white fluffy rice, ripe plantains and a nice leafy salad & vinegar & Olive oil dressing, a loaf of hot Cuban or Italian bread to sop up all the sauce and a nice bottle of wine.
• Enjoy!

FISH BAKED WITH OLIVES, PARSLEY AND GARLIC: TAGINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Use a small amount of olive oil to grease a shallow baking dish that is just large enough to hold the stuffed fillets in 1 layer, and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining olive oil in a medium-size skillet over medium heat. When it is hot, add the onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, just until the onion is softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the parsley and pepper, and set aside.
• Rinse the fillets and pat dry with paper towels. Lay the fillets out flat on a work surface, inside up. Spread the onion mixture down the center of each fillet, dividing evenly. Fold fillet over the onion mixture, and secure with a couple of toothpicks. Arrange the stuffed fillets in the prepared baking dish. Spoon the chopped olives evenly over the fillets. Arrange the lemon slices over the olives. Drizzle evenly with the remaining olive oil, then sprinkle lightly with paprika.
• Cover the baking dish very tightly with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil, and test the fish for doneness. It should flake when lightly touched with a fork. Serve immediately, accompanied by hot couscous.

WHOLE ROAST FISH BAKED IN SALT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet large enough to hold the snapper.
• Rinse the snapper thoroughly, inside and out, and pat dry with paper towels. Stuff the cavity with the rosemary, thyme, coriander seeds, and bay leaves.
• On the baking sheet, spread about 1/2 pound of the salt in an even layer that is slightly longer and wider than the snapper. Place the fish on the salt layer and cover completely with the remaining salt.
• Bake until a instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the fish reads 130/, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven. Brush away as much salt as possible. Using two dessert spoons, remove the top fillets and transfer to a warm plate. Lift off the bones, then transfer the bottom fillets to another plate. Serve immediately, with the extra-virgin olive oil and lemon wedges passed on the side so each diner can season their fish as desired.