Best Saffron Fish With Red Peppers And Preserved Lemon Recipes

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SAFFRON FISH WITH RED PEPPERS AND PRESERVED LEMON



Saffron Fish With Red Peppers and Preserved Lemon image

This very flexible recipe is often served by Moroccan Jews and their descendants. Many who moved to France, for example, tend to prepare it with preserved lemons and olives. Others living in Jerusalem, like Danielle Renov, author of "Peas, Love & Carrots" (Mesorah Publications, 2020), might incorporate more spice. (Ms. Renov omits the saffron for Passover.) With the addition of red peppers and tomatoes coming from the Americas, it became the rich Moroccan dish it is today. Traditionally made with white fish, it also works with salmon or shad. Serve this as an appetizer, symbolic of the wish for abundance. Assemble it in the morning and cook it just before serving, or eat the fish at room temperature. For a main course, add quinoa or couscous to soak up the flavorful juices.

Provided by Joan Nathan

Categories     dinner, seafood, appetizer, main course

Time 30m

Yield 4 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

A few pinches to 1/2 teaspoon saffron strands
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 red bell peppers, trimmed, quartered, seeded, then halved crosswise
1 large red or yellow onion, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
6 garlic cloves, peeled and left whole
1 bunch cilantro, leaves and delicate stems separated and chopped
Kosher salt and coarsely ground black pepper
8 skinless fish fillets (about 4 ounces each), such as salmon, sea bass, striped bass, whitefish or rockfish
1 teaspoon ground sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional)
1/4 cup pitted kalamata or green Moroccan olives
1 preserved lemon, rinsed, chopped (peel and flesh) and seeded (or the juice of 1 fresh lemon)

Steps:

  • Pour 2 cups of boiling water into a bowl and sprinkle with the saffron strands. Use a spoon to press the saffron strands against the side of the bowl to release the flavor. Cover the bowl with a plate and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over low. Add the bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, garlic and cilantro stems, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is transparent.
  • Nestle the fish into the vegetables, sprinkle with the paprika, red-pepper flakes (if using), 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Pour the prepared saffron water over everything. (You can do all of this in advance 1 day in advance, and refrigerate until ready to finish.)
  • When ready to cook, add the olives and preserved lemon (if using - but if using fresh lemon, that will come in Step 5). Bring the mixture to a boil over high, reduce to low, cover the pan and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, basting the fish every 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the cilantro leaves during the last few minutes of cooking.
  • Taste for seasoning and serve, setting the fish on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice, if not using the preserved lemon. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SHAD FILLETS WITH RED PEPPER AND SAFFRON SAUCE



Shad Fillets With Red Pepper And Saffron Sauce image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Categories     dinner, project, main course

Time 4h15m

Yield Four servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 shad fillets, about 2 pounds each
1 cup white wine
1 cup lemon juice
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 small onion, peeled and minced
1 bay leaf
3 black peppercorns, cracked
6 red bell peppers, stemmed, cored, deveined and quartered
2 tablespoon Sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon saffron threads
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place the fish, skin side down, in a glass or ceramic baking dish. Cover with the wine, lemon juice, garlic, onion, bay leaf and peppercorns. Marinate for 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Combine the red peppers, vinegar, saffron, garlic and thyme in a saute pan. Cover and cook over medium-low heat until the peppers are barely tender. Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Strain.
  • Transfer the fish to a clean baking dish. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the marinade over the fish. Pour 1/2 cup of the pepper sauce over the fish. Cover with foil and bake until the small bones dissolve, about 3 to 4 hours.
  • Fifteen minutes before serving, heat the remaining sauce in a saucepan over low heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the fish from the oven. Cut the fillets in half and divide among 4 plates. Spoon the sauce over the shad and serve immediately.

PAN SEARED SNAPPER IN SAFFRON SAUCE



Pan Seared Snapper in Saffron Sauce image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 50m

Number Of Ingredients 13

2 (8-ounce) snapper fillets, bones reserved
1/4 cup olive oil
1 fennel bulb, cut in wedges
2 tablespoons shallots
1 teaspoon garlic
1 good pinch saffron
1/4 cup white wine
Lemon juice of one lemon
1/8 cup pernod
1/2 cup fish stock, recipe follows, or water
Salt to taste
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons butter

Steps:

  • Heat skillet over medium high flame until it's nice and hot. In the meantime with a sharp knife, score the skin side of the snapper and salt and pepper. Add 1/8 of a cup of the olive oil to skillet. Put the snapper meatside down, sear until you've got a golden crust then turn the fillet over and cook 2 minutes more. Take the fillets out of the skillet and set aside while you saute the fennel in the same skillet for 5 minutes. Set the fennel aside and drain any oil from the skillet. Put remaining 1/8 cup olive oil into skillet over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, saffron, and saute for 1 minute. Deglaze skillet with wine, lemon juice and pernod. When there is almost no liquid left in skillet add fish stock or water. Bring to a simmer and add fennel back to skillet and continue to simmer for 2 more minutes. Put snapper on top of fennel, put skillet in a preheated 425 degree oven for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from oven and put fennel on a plate and snapper again on top of fennel. Return skillet to high flame and reduce pan juice by half, remove pan from heat and add butter. Swinging pan until dissolved and sauce has thickened, salt and pepper to taste and spoon around fish and fennel.

SAFFRON AND PRESERVED LEMON SCENTED SHRIMP RICE PILAF



Saffron and Preserved Lemon Scented Shrimp Rice Pilaf image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon saffron threads
Salt
1 1/2 cups rice
3 cups water
1 cup tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1/2 cup cracked green olives
1 pound medium shrimp
1 tablespoon finely chopped preserved lemons
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds, for garnish
Chopped parsley, for garnish

Steps:

  • In a medium saucepan, add 2 tablespoons of the vegetable oil and heat. Add the onions and saute for 3 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and saute for another 2 minutes. Add the saffron threads and saute for 1 minute. Season with salt. Add the rice and saute, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. Add the water and cover the pot. Lower the heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. While the rice is cooking, in a saute pan, over high heat, add the remaining vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, add the tomatoes and the cayenne pepper. Saute for 5 minutes, or until the liquid begins to evaporate. Add the olives, shrimp and preserved lemons and cook until the shrimp turn pink and their tails curl completely, about 4 to 5 minutes. Be careful not to overcook. Season with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp mixture to the rice mixture and mix well. Check for seasoning. Garnish with almonds and parsley.

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