Baked Snapper with Tomatoes and Olives (Pesce al Forno con Pomodori e Olive Neri) Recipe
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus a little oil for drizzling
- 8 (6-ounce) pieces snapper fillet
- Fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lightly toasted and ground fennel seeds
- 1 cup nicoise olives, pitted
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1 3/4 pounds ripe but firm tomatoes, seeded and cut into 3/8-inch dice
- 1/2 cup lightly packed torn fresh basil leaves
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Put 3 tablespoons of the olive oil in each of 2 baking dishes, each large enough to hold 4 pieces of fish with space in between.
- Put the dishes in the oven to heat the oil, but dont let it get to the smoking point.
- With a sharp utility or boning knife, make a few shallow slices through the skin of each snapper fillet to keep them from curling in the hot oil.
- Season each piece on both sides with salt, pepper, and fennel.
- Place the fish in the hot oil, skin side down, to coat with the oil, then immediately turn with a fish spatula so that the skin side is up.
- The oil is the correct temperature if you hear a light sizzle when the fish is added.
- Divide the olives between the dishes, scattering them around the fish, then splash equal amounts of wine into each dish.
- Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until the fish is slightly firm and starts to flake when the tip of a knife is inserted into the flesh.
- The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the fillets.
- Season the tomatoes with salt and pepper, then divide them between the baking dishes, making sure they fall between the pieces of fish and into the hot pan juices.
- The tomatoes just need to get slightly wilted in the hot pans.
- With a fish spatula, transfer the fish to warmed plates or a serving platter.
- Toss the basil in the olives and tomatoes, and when the leaves are coated with the pan juices, spoon the mixture over the fish.
- I always like to add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil to finish for traditions sake.
- Serve immediately.
extravirgin olive oil, snapper fillet, salt, freshly ground black pepper, nicoise olives, white wine, tomatoes, basil
Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/baked-snapper-with-tomatoes-and-olives-pesce-al-forno-con-pomodori-e-olive-neri-11001 (may not work)