Veracruzana Fish Recipes

VERACRUZ-STYLE TILAPIA ("PESCADO A LA VERACRUZANA")

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the fish fillets on both sides with salt and black pepper, to taste. Saute the fillets until they are opaque and just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the fish to a glass baking dish where they fit snugly.
• In the same saute pan, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, Anaheim chile, bay leaf and oregano and bring the pan to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover and let the sauce simmer until the chiles soften, about 6 minutes. Uncover the pan, add the olives and capers, and cook until the flavors combine, about 4 minutes. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Pour the sauce over the fish in the baking dish. Bake until the fish is heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, discard the bay leaf and serve.

VERACRUZ-STYLE RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook and stir until onions begin to turn translucent, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Cook and stir in garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add capers and caper juice; stir to combine.
• Stir in tomatoes, olives, jalapeno pepper, . Cook and stir until jalapeno pepper softens and tomatoes begin to collapse, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in oregano.
• Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil into a small baking dish. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of the tomato-olive mixture. Top with 1 snapper fillet, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Top with more filling and juice from 1 lime. Repeat with remaining snapper fillet, seasoning, and lime juice in a second baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish is flaky and no longer translucent, 15 to 20 minutes.

FISH VERACRUZANA

Steps:

• Put potatoes through thick slicing blade of food processor.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in non-stick skillet or 3 tablespoons in regular skillet. Saute onions over medium high heat until they begin to take on color. Push to the side and add potatoes. Cook, stirring often, until potatoes begin to take on color.
• Put bell peppers and chilies through thick slicing blade of food processor . Add to potatoes with lime juice, garlic and black pepper. Reduce heat and cook until potatoes and peppers are beginning to soften.
• Chop cilantro and add 1/3 cup to skillet, along with tomato puree and fish. Cover fish with vegetables and cook until fish is done, about 8 minutes, depending on thickness of fish.
• Serve the fish with the remaining chopped cilantro for garnish and the lime wedges.

VERACRUZANA FISH

Steps:

• Cut the onion into very thin slices. Grate the tomatoes to get all their flesh. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and sauté onion over medium heat until soft and slightly golden. Add the tomato pulp and allow to stir-fry for 5 minutes more. Cut olives into small pieces and add to skillet. Add the capers and stir with a wooden spoon to incorporate all ingredients well. Chop finely and add chilies. Let the sauce cook for approximately 10 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt and pepper and reserve the sauce.
• Cut the fish fillets and bring the sauce back to the fire. When boiling, add fish fillets and ½ cup of water to prevent the sauce becomes too dry.
• Let cook on medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on thickness of fillets).
• Serve fillets with a good amount of sauce and spread cilantro or parsley.

SEA BASS VERACRUZANA

Steps:

• Season the fish fillets with salt and pepper. Heat one very large or two medium sized saute pans over medium high heat for a minute, then add the butter. When the butter is sizzling, add the fillets flesh side down and turn the heat to very high. Sear the fillets until golden brown and flip to sear the other side. Remove fillets from pan and reserve on a rack over a plate to catch juices.
• Return the pan (or pans) to the heat, add the onions and cook, stirring often, over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic, jalapeno slices, lime wedges, tomatoes, oregano and olives and saute briskly for 1 minute more. Add the white wine and reduce to half. Add the fish stock and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and return fish fillets, along with their juices, to the pan. Finish cooking, covered, about 1 to 3 minutes depending upon the thickness of fillets.
• Taste broth and adjust seasoning, then serve immediately in soup plates with a generous puddle of broth and garnish of vegetables on top.

PESCADO VERACRUZANO (BAKED FISH VERACRUZ STYLE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Squeeze lime and rub fish with juice. Coarsely chop lime rind and put in cavity. Sprinkle fish inside and out with pepper. Place in baking dish.
• Heat oil in saucepan and add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until wilted. Add green peppers and stir briefly. Add oregano, pepper flakes and tomatoes. Bring to boil and let cook about 10 minutes.
• Pour sauce over fish and place in oven. Bake, basting often with sauce, about 30 minutes or until done. When cooked, back fin bones will slip out easily when tugged. Brush fish with sauce and serve.

FISH VERACRUZANO

Steps:

• Combine tomato, celery, bay leaves, cilantro, oregano and simmer til celery is tender.
• Cut Olives and jalapenos in half and drain.
• In separate skillet add olive oil, onion, and garlic and saute til onion is clear. Add Onion olive oil mixture to tomatoes along with capers, jalapenos, olives. Cook for 10 minutes more to bring flavors together. Add salt to taste. Maintain hot.
• Separately Cook fish simply in your preferred manner. I just like to put the fish in a skillet with a little wine, butter and salt. Put on lid and cook til flaky. Serve fish on bed of rice and top with tomato sauce.