Zippy Tomato Topped Snapper Recipes

MOIST ROASTED WHOLE RED SNAPPER WITH TOMATOES, BASIL AND OREGANO

Steps:

• Stuff and cook the snapper: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. If the fins are still on the fish, use kitchen scissors to cut them off (they just fall apart when cooked). Sprinkle both the inside and the outside of the fish liberally with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, whole basil leaves, oregano sprigs, garlic and lemon slices.
• Using a very large (14-inch) saute pan or a small roasting pan (oven safe) heat about 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat until smoking. Add the fish and cook until well browned on one side, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the fish over-use a large spatula and grab the tail if it's not too hot-and cook on the other side until well browned, about 2 minutes. Take the fish out of the pan and use wadded paper towels to wipe the pan clean of the oil.
• Cook the vegetables: Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, a pinch of red pepper flakes, the tomatoes, potatoes, chopped oregano and a pinch of salt and cook until the tomatoes begin to lose some of their liquid, about 3 minutes. Return the fish to the pan, laying it on top of the vegetables and drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil over it. Add the chicken broth to the pan and squeeze the remaining lemon half into the sauce in the pan. Cook on the stove another 3 to 4 minutes, basting the fish with the sauce and moving some of the tomatoes and potatoes in the pan on top of the fish.
• Finish cooking the fish in the oven safe pan in the oven 18 to 19 minutes. (To check for doneness, push the head down gently in the area between the nose and the top of the head; when the head easily moves away from the back of the neck, it is ready.)
• To serve: Remove the fish from the oven and carefully transfer it to a sided platter, pouring any liquid in its cavity back into the pan, and keep the fish warm. Return the pan to the stove over medium heat and cook the sauce and vegetables for a minute or two to concentrate the flavors. Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, the chopped basil and season with additional salt and pepper if necessary. Pour the sauce and vegetables over the fish and serve, using a large spoon to remove servings off the fish. (Don't forget to turn it over to eat off the other side!)

BAKED RED SNAPPER WITH CITRUS - TOMATO TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
• Coat the Red Snapper on both sides with some of the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Place the fish in a 9-inch glass pie dish.
• Mix remaining oil, tomatoes w/green chilies, tangerine pieces, green onions and cilantro in a small bowl.
• Season topping to taste with salt and pepper, and fish herbs.
• Spoon the topping over the Red Snapper.
• Bake until Snapper is just opaque in center, about 15-20 minutes.
• Can be cooked through if preferred.
• Sprinkle almonds on top of each serving.

SNAPPER WITH FENNEL AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Stir the saffron into the wine and set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the fennel and onion and cook, stirring, until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the saffron-wine mixture and olives and simmer until the liquid is reduced to about a tablespoon, about 3 minutes. Add the vegetable stock and cook until slightly reduced, about 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper; stir in the parsley.
• Meanwhile preheat the broiler. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Rub the skin with 3 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add the fish skin-side up and cook until golden on the bottom, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the broiler. Broil until the skin is slightly charred, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Divide the vegetables and liquid among 4 dishes. Top with the fish skin-side-up. Garnish each dish with fennel fronds and finish with gray salt.

OVEN ROASTED RED SNAPPER FILLETS WITH TOMATOES AND ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine the tomatoes, basil, onions, and olives in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Season both sides of the fillets with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and Essence. Arrange the fish on the baking sheet, followed by the tomato mixture and then the lemon slices. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over each fillet.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the snapper is cooked through. To serve, place a portion of Rice Pilaf on an entree plate. Use a spatula to remove the fish, along with the tomatoes, onions and lemons from the baking sheet and place over the Rice Pilaf. Drizzle with tomato water, if desired, and garnish each fillet with a chiffonade of fresh basil.
• Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
• Recipe from "New New Orleans Cooking", by Emeril Lagasse and Jessie Tirsch, published by William and Morrow, 1993.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large ovenproof saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until opaque and nutty in aroma, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and salt, stir well, and bring to a boil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and transfer to the oven. Bake until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove the rice from the oven and let stand, undisturbed, for 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the green onions, if desired. Serve hot.
• Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Add just enough olive oil for flavor and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

SNAPPER WITH ROASTED GRAPE TOMATOES, GARLIC, AND BASIL

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, garlic, vinegar, pepper flakes, and salt, to taste. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast until the tomatoes get juicy, about 15 minutes. Transfer tomatoes to a bowl and toss with the basil.
• Dry the fish very well all over. To keep the fish from curling in the pan, lightly slash a cross-hatch pattern into the skin of the fish with a sharp knife. Brush the rounded flesh side of the fish with the remaining olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Place the fish, seasoned side down, in the oil, and cook undisturbed over high heat, until the fish turns both opaque along the edges and golden on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Lightly salt the skin side of the fish. Flip the snapper and turn off the heat and let the fish cook in the residual heat of the pan until the fillets are firm but still juicy, about 1 minute more.
• Divide the fish among 4 plates. Top with the tomatoes and serve.

RED SNAPPER WITH TOMATO-CITRUS TOPPING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F. Rub red snapper fillets on both sides with some of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place snapper in 9-inch glass pie dish. Mix remaining oil, tomatoes, tangerine pieces, green onions, cilantro and jalapeño in small bowl. Season topping to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon topping over snapper. Bake until snapper is just opaque in center, about 12 minutes.

RED SNAPPER WITH THYME, TOMATOES, AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Combine plum tomatoes, shallot, and chopped thyme in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cut 1 sheet of aluminum foil about 18 inches long. Place on work surface. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil in center of aluminum foil. Place red snapper fillets side by side in center of aluminum foil. Top with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with olives. Drizzle fish with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Fold foil over, enclosing contents completely and crimping edges tightly to seal. (Can be prepared up to 6 hours ahead; refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Place large baking sheet in oven and heat 10 minutes. Place foil packet on heated baking sheet. Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes. Open foil packet over bowl to catch juices. Serve fish with juices over white rice.

GREEN PEPPER- AND TOMATO-TOPPED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill. Cut 1 (24x18-inch) sheet of heavy-duty foil; spray with cooking spray. Layer coarsely chopped onion, bell pepper and tomatoes on center of sheet. Bring up 2 sides of foil over vegetables so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again, allowing space for heat circulation and expansion. Fold other sides to seal.
• Place vegetable packet on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 6 minutes, turning once. Meanwhile, in large bowl, mix onions, vinegar, salt, thyme and pepper sauce; set aside. Cook rice in water as directed on package.
• Spray fish and grill basket that has locking top with cooking spray. Place fish in basket. Place on grill with vegetable packet. Rotate vegetable packet 1/2 turn. Cover grill; cook 8 to 12 minutes, turning fish once, until fish flakes easily with fork.
• Place fish on serving platter; keep warm. Cut large X across top of packet; carefully fold back foil to allow steam to escape. Add grilled vegetables and parsley to green onion mixture; toss. Spoon over fish. Serve with rice.