Jamaican Escovitch Red Snapper Recipes

JAMAICAN FRIED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Pat the fish dry and cut 3 small slits on each side of the fish. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1 quart oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until smoking. Carefully place the fish in the pan and fry until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes per side. Remove fish and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir onion, garlic and carrot into the pan; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes. Add thyme, allspice, habanero pepper, vinegar, water, salt, and sugar and continue cooking until onions have softened and liquid has reduced, about 5 minutes.
• Serve fish topped with onion mixture spooned over the top.

ESCOVITCH SNAPPER

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a deep-fryer or cast-iron skillet to 350 degrees F.
• Score the fish on both sides with a knife. Sprinkle inside and out with the Seafood Spice Rub. Coat in batter if using (see Cook's Note).
• Fry the fish until the skin, or batter, is crispy, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Serve with Escovitch Dressing.
• In a food processor, pulse together the pimento seeds, adobo, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, black pepper and white pepper. Add the olive oil and process until the mixture has a deep red color, about 45 seconds.
• Combine the vinegar and 3 cups water in a saucepan. Add the sugar, pimento seeds and 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, onions, peppers and thyme. Remove the pan from the heat and let the vegetables cook slightly in the hot liquid (they should still be firm).

JAMAICAN ESCOVITCH FRIED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Rinse and clean fish with juice from the lemon. Pat dry. Cut 3 diagonal lines across the sides of each fish.
• Mix spices sea salt, cracked black pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, celery powder, and cumin in a small bowl.
• Season the outside and inside cavity of the fish with the spice mix.
• Fill a large frying pan with oil, about ½ inch deep, to high heat.
• Season the oil by adding 6-8 pimento seeds and ½ of the scotch bonnet pepper (or a whole pepper for a more intense heat) into the oil. The scotch bonnet pepper will eventually turn black as it cooks. That's ok!
• Place fish in the frying pan away from you. Adjust the heat between medium and high to avoid the fish being burned.
• Fry for 5-6 minutes on each side. The fish should be slightly brown to blackened.
• Remove fish from frying pan and allow to drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
• Allow the oil to cool and strain, reserving ½ cup of oil. Discard remaining oil.
• In a large saucepan, warm reserved oil to medium heat. Add fresh oil if needed.
• Add onions, remaining allspice seeds, red pepper, green pepper, carrot, and remaining scotch bonnet pepper to lightly saute.
• Saute for about 5 minutes, you want the vegetables to keep their body and crunch.
• Add the rice vinegar, and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Place onions and pepper sauce over the fish.
• Serve with Jamaican Rice and Peas.

RED SNAPPER ESCOVITCH

Steps:

• Slice pepper, onion and carrot into thin strips.
• Peel and finely mince ginger and garlic.
• Remove stem from cilantro and finely chop.
• Sprinkle fillets with seafood seasoning, salt and pepper to taste.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saute pan, at medium heat setting.
• place fish in pan and cook for about 4 minutes.
• Turn fillets over and place in center of pan.
• Add lime juice and remaining butter.
• Place garlic, ginger, carrot, onions, bell pepper and cilantro around fish.
• Cover, reduce heat to low and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until fish is firm and white.
• Serve immediately with angel hair pasta or steamed rice.