Whole Fish Tikin Xik Style Recipes

TIKIN-XIK FISH

Steps:

• Prepare a charcoal grill for indirect cooking over medium-high heat.
• Wash the fish thoroughly and dry with paper towels. Sprinkle inside and out with the salt and pepper.
• Dissolve the achiote paste in the sweet orange juice, sour orange juice and vinegar. Rub the fish very well, inside and out, with the mixture. Refrigerate for 3 hours.
• Place the fish on a banana leaf and arrange the pimiento strips, red onions, tomatoes and garlic on top. Sprinkle with the oregano.
• Transfer the banana leaf to the grill and cook, covered, until the fish is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Serve with rice and refried beans, accompanied by tortillas.

PESCADO TIKIN XIK

Steps:

• Puree all ingredients except fish, oil, and lemon in a blender until smooth. Place fish in a nonreactive container, and pour marinade over the fish; turn to coat evenly. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush a baking sheet with oil. Remove fish, letting excess marinade drip off, and arrange in a single layer on sheet; brush with remaining oil. Bake until fish is firm and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Serve hot, with lemon wedges on the side.

BALI BAKED FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat dry the fish fillets, season with salt and pepper, and arrange in a shallow baking dish. In a blender or food processor combine the onion, garlic, gingerroot, tamarind paste, sesame oil, cumin, salt to taste, and 2 tablespoons water and blend until smooth. Pour mixture over fish, coating both sides. Bake fish, covered with foil, in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Transfer fillets to a serving dish, correct seasoning, adding more salt if necessary, and drizzle with lemon juice. Garnish with mint.

WHOLE GRILLED PARROT FISH

Steps:

• Preheat the grill.
• Place a large piece of aluminum foil on a flat surface. Place 1 ti leaf on top, followed by the fish. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt.
• Mix together the mayonnaise and pesto in a small bowl until smooth. Smother the mayonnaise mixture all over the fish, getting into all the scores. Combine the sausage, garlic, mushrooms, green onions and yellow onions and stuff the mixture into the fish scores, flipping and stuffing into the other side as well. Top the fish with the second ti leaf, and then another piece of aluminum foil, tightly wrapping it all up to form a pouch.
• Grill the fish for 30 to 40 minutes. Carefully unwrap the foil and serve family-style, garnishing with the reserved green onions.

OPEN HEARTH GRILLED FISH

Steps:

• Have the local lumber company cut a piece of oak, pecan, or cedar 8 inches wide and 20 inches long. Be sure to measure your hearth height and width before cutting the plank. Oil the plank thoroughly with olive oil, rubbing well into the pores of the wood.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• To season the wood, place in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove and allow to cool. Build a roaring fire in your fireplace using 4 to 5 pieces of firewood in order to achieve a large coal bed. Remember that you cook on reflective heat in a fireplace, not the fire itself, so coals are important. Once a coal bed has been established, keep 1 log burning on the back of the fireplace to sustain the coals.
• Completely scale the fish, leaving the head and tail intact. Remove the gills and rinse the inside cavity. Using a sharp paring knife, cut 3 slits on each side of the fish to the bone. These slits will be used for seasoning and to ensure proper cooking. Rub the fish with olive oil and season inside and out with salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Place chopped herbs in a small mixing bowl and blend thoroughly. Rub herb mixture in each of the 6 slits and on the outside of the fish. Fill the belly cavity with whole mixed herbs. Using heavy butcher's twine, tie the fish to the board in a criss-cross fashion and tie a knot underneath the board to secure it. The twine will guarantee that the fish stays in place and flat against the board during the baking process.
• Using a fireplace shovel, remove the hot coals from the right or left side of the fireplace approximately 1 foot from the edge. Place the fish head-side up against the side of the fireplace. Be careful that the plank does not get near an open flame, as the board will ignite. Turn the fish every 30 minutes, first head up and then tail up. The fish will need to cook about 1 hour, depending on heat. Test the flesh for doneness with a kitchen fork. The underside of the fish will cook at the same rate since the plank is picking up the heat of the hearth. Remove from fireplace and serve on the plank for a unique presentation.
• Cooking Instructions for a Conventional Oven: Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.
• Cure the plank as described above and then follow seasoning instructions for fish. Place the fish lengthwise on the hot plank and place on a cookie sheet to catch any drippings that may run off during cooking. Bake on the center rack of the oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until fish is flaky. There is no need to turn the fish during the cooking process. Remove and serve on the plank for a unique presentation.

TIKIN XIK SEA BASS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a small food processor or mortar, grind achiote seeds with peppercorns, salt, oregano, chile piquin, garlic and juices to make a smooth paste. Unfold banana leaf. Cut off and reserve the tough center rib that runs along the bottom edge of each leaf with kitchen scissors.
• Cut ribs into 12- to 14-inch strips for tying packets. Gently cut leaves into eight 12-inch squares, being careful not to split them.
• Slowly run a banana-leaf square across flame of a gas burner, just enough to "melt" outer coating on leaf - it will become quite shiny. If you have an electric stove, hold leaf slightly above burner on medium-high setting.
• Place a filet of sea bass in center of square and spread achiote paste over top and bottom of the fish.
• Fold two sides of banana leaf over fish to enclose it and then fold in opposite sides to form a packet. Tie packet with a strip of banana-leaf rib and transfer to a large baking sheet.
• Assemble seven more packets in same manner and set aside to season for at least two hours.
• Bake fish packets in middle of oven 20 minutes and then transfer each to a large plate. Serve with pickled red onions.
• ONIONS: In a non-reactive bowl, mix all ingredients. Let onions marinate in refrigerator for at least 24 hours before using.

TIKIN XIC

Steps:

• Serving suggestions:
• Add a serving of mixed, fresh vegetables on the side of each plate.
• Marinate the fillet with achiote for about 5 minutes. Put the fillet over the banana leaf, add epazote, onion, green pepper and tomato. Wrap and put it on the grill. Cook each side for 4 minutes. Serve with vegetable on the side.

WHOLE FISH, TIKIN XIK STYLE

Steps:

• 1. For the fish fillets in the recipe above substitute 1 large whole fish, such as snapper, grouper, or pompano, trimmed of fins and cleaned, head and tail left on. Rinse the fish, inside and out, under cold running water. Drain and blot dry with paper towels. Make 5 or 6 deep diagonal slashes, to the bone, in each side of the fish. Place the fish in a nonreactive roasting pan while you prepare the marinade as directed in the main recipe. Pour the marinade over the fish, using your fingers to spread it over both sides of the fish, working it into the slashes as well. Cover and let marinate, in the refrigerator, for 1 to 3 hours.2. Set up the grill for indirect cooking preheat to high. It is not necessary to use a drip pan.3. When ready to cook, set the fish on a piece of banana leaf or 4 to 6 layers of aluminum foil cut just larger than the fish and place in the center of the grill grate, away from the flame. Cover the grill and cook until the fish flakes easily when pressed with a finger, 40 to 60 minutes. Arrange the onion, tomato wedges, and epazote (if using) on top of the fish 5 minutes before the ending of the cooking time.4. Using two long spatulas, carefully remove the fish to a serving platter. Garnish as directed and serve with the "Dog's Nose" Salsa.Serves 4