ESCOVITCH FISH SLIDERS

Escovitch Fish Sliders image

Provided by Ayesha Curry

Time 35m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

4 or 5 allspice berries
2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 small Scotch bonnet or habanero chile, scored and left whole
2 cloves garlic, 1 grated and 1 crushed
1 tablespoon grated ginger
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup malt vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 small yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 heaping tablespoon sweet chile sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 scallion, minced
1 1/4 pounds skinless thick snapper fillets (about 3 fillets)
Vegetable oil, for brushing
One 12-ounce package (12 rolls) sweet dinner rolls, such as King's Hawaiian, split and lightly toasted

Steps:

In a small saucepan, combine the allspice, thyme, Scotch bonnet, grated garlic, ginger, sugar, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sugar and salt are dissolved and the spices are fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, along with the carrots, red onions, red peppers and yellow peppers; toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate while you make the fish.
Stir together the mayonnaise, sweet chile sauce, lime juice and scallions in a bowl. Set aside while you grill the fish.
Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Rub the snapper fillets all over with the crushed garlic clove; discard the garlic. Sprinkle the fillets with salt and a generous grinding of black pepper, then brush on all sides with oil. Brush the grill pan with oil. Grill the fish, turning once, until just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a cutting board and cut or break into pieces to fit the rolls.
Spread the mayo mixture on the rolls. Remove and discard the Scotch bonnet and the thyme sprigs from the pickled pepper relish. Top the rolls with the fish, a pinch of the pickled vegetables and a sprinkle of the pickling liquid. Serve the sliders with the remaining mayo and pepper relish on the side.