Rebeccas Coconutty Fish Recipes

THAI FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the fish into large 2-inch chunks, pat dry and place in a bowl. Season with salt, lime zest from one lime and 1 tablespoon lime juice, and massage lightly to coat. Set aside.
• In an extra-large saute pan, heat the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until golden, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, lemongrass and fresh chilies. Saute 3-4 more minutes, until fragrant. Turn heat to low. Grate the ginger and turmeric and add the Thai Curry paste if using, saute 1 minute. Add the chicken stock, kaffir lime leaves , salt, carrots and bell pepper. Cover, bring to a simmer and simmer gently for 5 minutes until the carrots are tender.
• Once tender, stir in the coconut milk and fish sauce, and a generous squeeze of lime juice- start with half a lime, add more to taste.
• Taste it- coconut broth should be salty, lime-y and a little spicy- and adjust to your taste. Add more fish sauce, Thai Curry paste, garlic chili paste, be bold here -keeping in mind all the flavors will mellow out with the addition of the fish, veggies and with it being served over rice.
• Nestle in the fish, and quick cooking veggies. Simmer gently over medium low heat, spooning the coconut broth over the top, or turning the fish over after the bottom half is cooked and becomes opaque, about 3 -4 minutes. You can also place this in a warm 350F oven to fish cooking.
• Garnish with basil or Thai basil, or cilantro and lime wedges.
• Serve over rice or cauliflower rice.

THAI CURRY COCONUT FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Pat the fish dry with paper towels then drizzle with a little oil and season with salt.
• Sear in a hot pan until golden brown on both sides then remove and set aside.
• In the same pan, sauté the onion and garlic until soft and translucent.
• Add the curry paste and cook for a few minutes until fragrant. Pour in the coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice and brown sugar.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes, until slightly thicker. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Add the fish to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until the fish is fully cooked.
• Scatter over fresh herbs and finely sliced chillies then serve with lime wedges and steamed rice.

COCONUT FISH AND TOMATO BAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, ginger, garlic, turmeric, red-pepper flakes, honey and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Zest and juice 1 lime directly into the coconut milk mixture. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Add the fish fillets and turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, adjust an oven rack to the lower-middle position. Arrange another rack in the position closest to the broiler heat source. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
• Place the tomatoes on a large sheet pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, season with salt and toss to coat. Place the marinated fish between the tomatoes and spoon all the marinade from the bowl over the fish. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil over the fish. Transfer the pan to the lower-middle rack and roast until the surface of the fish is opaque but the center is not cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes, depending on thickness of the fish. The fish should not flake easily with a fork. Remove the pan from the oven and heat the broiler to high.
• Move the pan to the broiler and finish cooking, rotating the pan once, until the fish is tender and the tomatoes are just beginning to brown in spots, 5 to 6 minutes, depending on thickness of the fish. Slice the remaining lime into wedges.
• Divide the tomatoes and fish among dishes and tip the pan juices over the fish. Garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup cilantro and serve with lime wedges for squeezing.

NUTTY COCONUT FISH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
• In a small bowl, blend mayonnaise and brown mustard. In a medium bowl, mix dry bread crumbs, shredded coconut, chopped mixed nuts, sugar, salt, and cayenne pepper.
• Dip fish in the mayonnaise mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Arrange coated fish fillets in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until fish is easily flaked with a fork.

COCONUT FISH STEW WITH BASIL AND LEMONGRASS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook, stirring, until shallots are softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in stock, coconut milk, lemongrass, jalapeño, vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, salt and lime zest. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Stir in seafood and herbs. Cook 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in lime juice and serve, with rice if desired. (Note: Without rice it's more soup than stew.)