Banana Leaf Roasted Snapper

Recipe by DeVonn Francis

 


Headnote: Cook time will depend on the size of your fish and if you're prepping the fish yourself! Talk to your local fishmonger if you need help with preparation. 

 

Serves: 2-4
Prep time: 1-2 hours

Banana Leaf Roasted Snapper

For snapper:

  • 4 large banana leaves (2 feet in length and about a foot wide)
  • 2 teaspoons of Yardy World x Madre Mezcal Chili Salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated
  • 4 cloves grated garlic
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 poblano, finely sliced
  • 1 yellow pepper, finely sliced
  • 1 shallot, trimmed and sliced lengthwise
  • ½ lb. fresh coconut flesh
  • 2 tablespoons of seasoned rice wine vinegar
  • 2 large red snapper sides, skin on, scaled and deboned
  • 1 large bunch fresh cilantro, leaves roughly chopped, plus extra for garnish
  • Flaky salt
  • 2 teaspoons of Yardy World x Madre Mezcal Black Salt
  • 1 large bunch of sawtooth cilantro leaves
  • 1 lime

For coconut yogurt:

  • ½ cup coconut yogurt
  • Juice of half a lime
  • 1 teaspoon salt 
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil

Place a wire rack in the center of your oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees.In a skillet over medium-high heat, toast coriander seeds until the aroma begins to fill the air. Then grind the coriander seeds in a vitamix or mortar and pestle. Transfer to a small bowl with Chili Salt, ginger, garlic and olive oil and combine until it becomes a loose paste.

On a baking sheet, rub the paste onto the skin and flesh side of your snapper with Chili Salt, coriander, and ginger.

While the snapper marinades, line a large sheet tray with the two banana leaves lying lengthwise and two banana leaves lying widthwise. Place the snapper, skin side up, on top of the leaves and gently wrap the snapper with the leaves making sure that no holes or gaps expose the snapper. You want the wrapping to be as tight as possible so that it's airtight.

Place something heavy and ovenproof on top to keep in place and set the sheet tray with snapper in the middle of the oven and cook for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, shave your coconut meat with a peeler until you have thin threads of coconut. Combine the poblano, peppers, shallots, into the bowl with the coconut and pour in the seasoned rice wine vinegar and a generous pinch of salt. Set aside and let the vegetables soften.

 

Coconut Yogurt

To make the coconut yogurt condiment, mix yogurt, lime juice, salt, garlic, and olive oil into a bowl until smooth.

 

Remove the snapper from the oven and carefully open the banana leaf wrapping. Turn your oven up to 500 degrees or to the broil setting. Broil the snapper for 2-3 minutes until the skin begins to bubble and dark char marks appear on the surface. Carefully remove the sheet tray from the oven and transfer the fish onto a serving platter. Arrange the lightly pickled vegetables and coconut mixture over the snapper and sprinkle with sawtooth cilantro and Yardy World x Madre Mezcal Black Salt. Garnish with lime wedges and immediately serve.

 

*Note: if you can’t find banana leaves you can substitute for a double layer of parchment paper.