Video and Recipe: Garlicky Fish Dish From Puerto Rico

From Denny: Here's a cuisine we don't hear much about and oh, this sounds so delicious for we seafood lovers! This is an economical dish where you can use fish like red snapper, tilapia or flounder for equally great results. The garlicky sauce would be yummy used on chicken or turkey or pork as well. Now that's versatile! I like sauces I can make up ahead of time and use for a variety of dishes. Bravo, Puerto Rico!

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Sauteed Red Snapper Fillets with Garlicky Paprika Sauce

From: Denisse Oller

INGREDIENTS

• 4 6-ounce red snapper fillets with skin
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Salt and pepper

Mojo picon (garlic/paprika sauce)

• 2-3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

DIRECTIONS

Fish preparation:
Pat snapper dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large non-stick skillet heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook fish, skin sides down, about 3 minutes, or until skin is golden brown. Turn fish over and cook 2 minutes more, or until just cooked through.

Note: The mild, slightly sweet flavor and flaky texture of red snapper takes well to light seasoning and a quick saute. The skin is edible and crisps nicely in a skillet.

For mojo picon (garlic/paprika sauce):
Slice the garlic cloves. Process the garlic, paprika, cumin and salt in a food processor or blender to create a paste. While blending, drizzle in olive oil gradually, drop by drop initially, until the ingredients emulsify. Add vinegar and blend until the sauce is thick and creamy.



Taro root (malanga) puree

From: Denisse Oller

INGREDIENTS

• 5 malanga or taro root, peeled and sliced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

Preparation: Boil malanga or taro root in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender.

Drain malanga and reserve cooking water. Mash and mix with butter and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add cooking water or more milk to thin mixture if it is too thick.

Recipe: Mole Sauce, My Style: Mole Sanchez

Mole Sauce, My Style: Mole Sanchez

From: Recipe courtesy Aaron Sanchez of the Food Network show Nuevos Chilies

Prep Time: 30 min
Inactive Prep Time: 0 min
Cook Time: 1 hr 30 min
Serves: 12 servings

Ingredients

1 pound guajillo chiles, stemmed, seeded, and deviened

1 pound pasilla chiles, stemmed, seeded, and deviened

1 pound ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded, and deviened

2 Spanish onions, quartered

4 tomatoes, quartered

10 tomatillos, peeled

8 large garlic cloves, peeled

1/2 cup black raisins

1 cup dried apricots

1 cup prunes

4 cups red wine

2 tablespoons Mexican oregano

1 tablespoon cumin seeds

1 tablespoon fennel seeds

2 tablespoons whole black peppercorns

5 cloves

2 large cinnamon sticks

1 gallon chicken stock

2 sweet plantains

Vegetable oil

1 piece Mexican chocolate

5 corn tortillas

Serving suggestion: beef, lamb, or chicken

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.

Begin by placing all the dry chiles on sheet tray and toasting them in hot oven for 2 minutes until they start to let off an aroma, remove quickly and submerge them in bowl with hot water. Set aside.

Preheat the broiler.

Place the onions, tomatoes, tomatillos, and garlic on sheet tray and allow until roast and allow to char in a salamander or broiler and the vegetables have roasted for about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.

In a medium saucepan combine the prunes, apricots, and raisins with the red wine and allow to cook for 10 minutes or until the fruit has absorbed all the wine and set aside.

In hot pan, toast all the spices, turning quickly as not to burn them. As soon as you see them smoking, remove, grind in a spice grinder, and set aside.

To start assembling the mole combine the chiles, roasted vegetables, red wine-soaked dry fruit and the spices in large heavy bottom pot. And add the chicken stock and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile peel the plantains and slice into 1-inch thick slices. In a saute pan with 3 inches of oil, fry the plantains until golden and add to the pot as well as chocolate and tortillas cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and puree the sauce until smooth. Serve with chicken, beef, or lamb.