Pescado Frito Fried Red Snapper Recipes

FRIED RED SNAPPER BITES

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients for the remoulade together and set aside. The remoulade can be made up to a week in advance, and making it the night before lets the flavors mellow.
• Cut the fish into chunks of about two bites each. Salt lightly. Mix together in a bowl the eggs, mustard, Creole seasoning and heavy cream.
• Pour enough peanut oil hot into a frying pan to come about a half-inch up the sides. Heat this to about 350F.
• While the oil is heating, dunk as many snapper bites in the egg wash as will fit. When the oil is hot, dredge the fish in the mashed Saltines. You can do this in a bowl or in a plastic bag. Really press in the Saltines, and it's OK to have a few bits that aren't pulverized.
• Fry the fish until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve with the remoulade, and some lemon wedges if you have them.

PESCADO FRITO (FRIED RED SNAPPER)

Steps:

• Prepare the adobo: Combine all the adobo ingredients and grind them together in a large pilón or mortar and pestle, or simply mix them together in a small bowl.
• Prepare the fish: Make three shallow crosswise cuts on both sides of the surface of the fish skin, then place it in a deep container with a lid or a large resealable bag. Pour adobo over, rubbing it into the skin, head and cavity. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or 2 to 3 hours in the fridge. If marinating longer, let the fish come to room temperature 30 minutes before frying.
• In a wide, heavy-bottomed pot large enough to submerge your fish, pour in enough oil to reach a depth of at least 2 inches. Heat over high until oil is simmering and reaches 350 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.
• Once the oil comes to temperature, pick the marinated fish up by the tail, shake off excess marinade, and lower it head-first into simmering oil. Use a pair of tongs to gently nudge the fish to prevent it from sticking to the pot. It'll be very active at first, so have a splatter shield handy, if you've got one.
• Using a heat-safe ladle, baste any unsubmerged fish with hot oil repeatedly, ensuring fish cooks evenly. Fry until it turns golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes, watching carefully and removing immediately if it starts to get dark.
• Using an extra-long fish spatula, or a set of heatproof tongs and a heatproof spatula, carefully lift the fish out of the oil and transfer it to the lined baking sheet.
• Let rest for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with lime wedges, hot sauce and cilantro.