Best Salt Crusted Snapper Recipes

SALT CRUSTED WHOLE RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• When cooking with a whole fish you must first be sure that the fish is gutted, your local fish market will do this for you. The skin should be scaled and the gills and fins removed. Leave on the head and tail. Rinse the fish inside and out then pat dry.
• In a mixing bowl, combine the parsley, orange, fennel, bay leaves, shallot, red pepper flakes, fennel seed, and 1/4-cup olive oil. Stuff the cavity of the fish with 3/4 of the mixture, then spread the remaining 1/4 on the bottom of a roasting pan so the fish will not stick.
• Transfer the fish to the roasting pan and rub the skin with remaining olive oil. In another bowl, whip the egg whites to a stiff peak, then fold in the salt to make a paste. Smear the salt paste over the entire fish and roast in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The egg whites form a hard crust that will crack like a shell. To serve, scoop the flesh from the fish with a spoon.

SALT AND HERB CRUSTED RED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• With a sharp knife, make 5 slits, at an angle and about 1 1/2 inches apart, on each side of the fish. Rub 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over each side of the fish, then season each side with Creole seasoning. Place the fish on the prepared baking sheet. Combine the kosher salt, herbs, lemon zest, and juice, orange zest and juice, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix well. Mound the mixture evenly on the surface of the fish, leaving the head and tail uncovered. With your fingers, firmly press the mixture into the flesh. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven and cool for 2 minutes.
• With the back of a heavy spoon or a mallet, lightly pound the salt crust to crack it open, beginning at the tail end. Carefully pull off the salt crust. Then, with a small spatula or wide knife, remove the flesh from the bone on the top side of the fish. Remove the back bone, then serve the flesh from the bottom side of the fish. Spoon the rice in the center of each serving plate. Lay the fish on top of the rice. Spoon some of the salsa over each serving.
• Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and toss well. Allow the salad to sit for 15 minutes before serving.

SALT CRUSTED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees F/220 degrees C. Tuck the lemon slices into the belly of the fish. Stir the salt and egg whites together in a bowl. Chop all but 6 mint leaves. Stir the chopped mint through the salt and put the others inside the fish. Put the fish in a baking dish and cover completely with the salt to seal. Bake 25 minutes. Crack the crust off with a knife, moving all the salt away from the surface. Peel back the skin from the fish, and carefully remove the fillets.

SEA SALT-CRUSTED PINK SNAPPER WITH ICE WINE NAGE

Steps:

• Using the bottom of a heavy pan, crush juniper berries and star anise. Add to a large bowl along with salt, fennel seeds, lemon, and orange zest; mix well. Add egg whites and stir until well combined.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Coat fish with oil on oil sides. Spread 3 cups of salt mixture on a rimmed baking sheet large enough to hold the fish. Place fish on top of salt; cover fish completely with remaining salt. Bake until a the tip of a knife inserted in the thickest part of the fish feels warm to the touch when you remove it, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add endive and carrots and cook 2 minutes more. Add wine, lemon juice, orange juice, and saffron. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook until liquid has reduced by one-third, about 5 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer vegetables to a bowl; set aside. Reduce heat to medium-low and whisk remaining 10 tablespoons butter, 1 or 2 tablespoons at a time, into the nage, just until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Add vegetables back into the nage until just heated through.
• Using a knife and spoon, break the salt crust from the fish and remove it in sections. Lift fish away from bones and serve with nage and garnish with parsley.

SALT-CRUSTED SNAPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Rinse snapper inside and out with cold water; pat dry with paper towels.
• Season fish inside and out with pepper.
• In a bowl, stir together egg whites, water and salt to make a paste.
• Spread half of salt paste over the bottom of an oval roasting pan.
• Place fish on top; pack remaining salt paste over entire surface of fish.
• Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of fish registers 135 degrees F., about 50-60 minutes.
• The salt paste will have formed a hard crust; gently crack it with a spoon, lift off crust and discard.
• Serve fish immediately.