MARCO'S FISH WRAPPED IN HOJA SANTA

Marco's Fish Wrapped in Hoja Santa image

Masa means dough. This recipe can also be used as a base to make tortillas or tamales. Recipe courtesy Chuck Hughes

Provided by Chuck Hughes

Categories Sauces

Time 45m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 23

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons/ 30 ml canola oil
2 cups/ 500 ml chopped Huitlacoche (corn mushroom)
1 leek, minced
salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 bunch epazote, chopped (or substitute with tarragon or a mix of herbs like cilantro, parsley and chives)
2 cups/ 500 ml very fine cornflour (masa harina)
1 teaspoon/ 5 ml salt
1/2 cup/ 125 ml crumbled chiapas cheese
2 tablespoons/ 30 ml butter
2 tablespoons/ 30 ml canola oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 leek, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 plantain banana, cut in chunks
1 tablespoon/ 15 ml bonito flakes
1/2 teaspoon/ 2 ml whole allspice
salt & freshly ground black pepper
canola oil, for deep frying
chia seeds, for garnish (optional)
toasted macadamia nuts, for garnish
4 jack fish fillets, or any white firm-flesh fish you like (about 2 pounds/1 kg)
4 hoja santa, leaves or 4 banana leaves
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

For the huitlacoche masa dumplings:.
In a skillet, heat the oil and saute the huitlacoche and leeks, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and add the epazote. Set aside.
For the masa bolitas:.
In a bowl, mix the corn flour, salt and 1 1/2 cups/ 375 ml water. Knead to form your dough.
Pinch off a golf ball-size piece of dough and press the center to form a cavity. Stuff it with some of the mushroom mixture and add some cheese. Enclose the stuffing with the masa and reshape into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the refrigerator until ready to deep-fry.
For the plantain salsa:.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the canola oil. Add the garlic, leeks and onions, and saute until translucent. Add the plantain bananas and continue sauteing, about 5 minutes. Add the bonito flakes and allspice, and continue sauteing, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the recipient of the food processor and reduce into a coarse puree, keeping some texture to it. Add a little water if too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
For the fish:.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Wrap the fish with the hoja santa leaves. Place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 5 minutes. Set aside.
To deep-fry the masa dumplings, heat the oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Deep-fry the dumplings until nice and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a baking tray covered with paper towels to drain excess oil. Season with salt and pepper.
To assemble the plate, add a spoonful of the plantain salsa on a plate, lay a piece of fish on the salsa and top with 2 or 3 masa dumplings. Garnish with chia seeds if using and toasted macadamia nuts.
Cook's Note:.
Chiapas cheese is a sharp cheese that tastes like aged Cheddar. You can substitute it with Cheddar cheese or any other favorite cheese.