MAYA CITRUS SALSA WITH RED SNAPPER

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Maya Citrus Salsa With Red Snapper image

Xec (pronounced "shek") is a sweet, sour, juicy citrus salsa from Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and it makes a brilliant match with almost any kind of fish, cooked almost any kind of way. The combination here - orange, grapefruit, lemon - is not traditional to Mayan cooking, nor is it a mandate. Add lime if you have it, a bitter orange if you can find it. Don't skip the minced habanero, though, which adds a bit of heat and yet more flavor. The fish starts on the stove for a few minutes, and is soon moved to the oven to finish cooking, for a total time of less than 10 minutes.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     dinner, easy, quick, weekday, main course

Time 15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 orange
1 small grapefruit
1 large lemon
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 habanero or other chili, seeded and minced, or to taste
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons oil
4 red snapper fillets, 4 to 6 ounces each, preferably skin on (and scaled)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut orange in half horizontally and section it as you would a grapefruit; do this over a bowl to capture all its juice. Remove seeds and combine flesh and juice in bowl. Repeat with grapefruit and lemon. Stir in cilantro, habanero and salt.
  • Put oil in a nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium high heat. A minute later, add fish, skin side down; season top with salt. Cook until skin begins to crisp, 3 or 4 minutes, then transfer to oven. Cook another 3 or 4 minutes, or until a thin-bladed knife meets little resistance when inserted into thickest part of fish. Serve fish with xec, immediately.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 242, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 9 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 30 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 585 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Mahin Hasan
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Next time, I might try experimenting with different types of citrus fruits, such as blood oranges or tangerines.


Bikash Gamal
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Overall, I would highly recommend this recipe to anyone who loves seafood and citrusy flavors.


Harper Smith
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The flavors in this dish were amazing! I especially loved the combination of the citrus salsa and the red snapper.


Carrie Pahl
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My family loved this recipe! The citrus salsa was a hit, and the red snapper was cooked perfectly.


tula Karki
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This dish is a keeper! It's easy to make and incredibly delicious. I'll definitely be adding it to my regular dinner rotation.


Paceon Woods
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The red snapper cooked to perfection - flaky and moist. It paired wonderfully with the vibrant citrus salsa.


Sierra Blankenship
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I was skeptical about using grapefruit in a salsa, but it surprisingly worked really well. The slight bitterness of the grapefruit added a pleasant contrast to the sweetness of the oranges and limes.


Binah Swee
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I've tried numerous citrus salsa recipes, but this one truly stands out. The combination of oranges, limes, and grapefruit adds a unique and refreshing dimension to the classic salsa.


Tumane Mokoena
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This salsa is a delightful burst of citrusy flavors that perfectly complements the delicate flakiness of the red snapper. The acidity of the oranges and limes cuts through the richness of the fish, creating a harmonious balance of flavors.