The fish stays moist and looks lovely when presented in this light broth. To complete the meal, it would be easy to toss in a small amount of blanched fresh peas, snow peas or green beans.
Quick-Braised Snapper in Cilantro Broth
1 clove garlic
1 shallot
1 lemon
2 teaspoons olive oil, divided use
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup packed cilantro leaves
1/4 teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt, divided use
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided use
2 (6-ounce) skin-on red snapper filets, pin bones removed
Mince the garlic and shallot (together is OK). Squeeze 2 tablespoons of juice from the lemon into a mini food processor or blender.
Heat a teaspoon of the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallot, stirring to coat. Cook 4 minutes, until they are softened and starting to take on a golden color.
Transfer to the mini food processor or blender. Add the broth, cilantro, half of the salt and half of the pepper; puree until smooth.
Heat the remaining teaspoon of oil over medium heat, in the same skillet you used to cook the garlic-shallot mixture.
Season the filets on both sides with the remaining salt and pepper. Add the fish to the skillet, skin side up, and cook for 1 minute, then use a flexible thin spatula to turn the filets over. Cook 2 minutes.
Pour the blended mixture evenly over the fish. Cook 2 minutes or until the fish is opaque and just cooked through, yet tender.
Place each filet in a wide, shallow bowl. Pour half of the pan sauce/broth over each one.
Serve immediately.
Makes 2 servings.
Adapted from The Newlywed Cookbook: 200 Simple Recipes and Original Meals for the Happy Couple by Robin Miller
Food on 03/19/2014