Pesce Spada Di Bagnara Recipes

PESCE SPADA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a bowl whisk together the oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic and salt and pepper. In a shallow dish coat the fish steaks with the mixture and let marinate, covered and chilled, for 15 minutes. Arrange the fish in a foil lined baking pan and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until fish is just cooked. In a bowl toss the tomatoes with the basil and salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the fish to serving plates and top each with some of the tomato/basil salad. Sprinkle with lemon juice and garnish with lemon wedges.

PESCE SPADA DI BAGNARA

Steps:

• Place the fish in a noncorrosive bowl and pour over the wine, turning the steaks so that each of them is wet. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and permit the fish to rest in the wine for 1 hour, turning it several times.
• In a small saucepan over a medium flame, heat the oil nearly to a simmer and add the crushed bay leaves and the chile peppers. Remove the pan from the flame, cover it, and permit the oil to absorb the seasonings while the fish rests in the wine.
• Build a wood fire.
• Remove the fish from its bath, drying it on absorbent paper towels. Strain the oil and massage both sides of the fish with 1/2 cup of it. Sprinkle sea salt and freshly cracked pepper over the steaks. Pound the branches of bay or rosemary with a mallet to release their fragrant oils.
• Lay the steaks on a grill over red/white-hot embers and cover them with the pounded branches. Char the steaks for 45 seconds to 1 minute-30 seconds will be sufficient if your fire is hot enough-removing the branches, turning the steaks, replacing the branches, and charring their other sides.
• Rewarm the remaining 1/2 cup of oil and pour it over a large, shallow plate. Lay the charred steaks in the oil so their hot flesh can absorb it.
• Present the steaks then, still warm, or left to cool a bit if your hunger can abide the wait. You need only honest bread and wine and the warmth of the fire.