Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaves with Chile Rajas and Crema
- 1 1/2 lb fresh poblano chiles
- 1 1/2 lb white onions, halved lengthwise, then sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons safflower oil
- 1 lb banana leaves*, thawed if frozen
- 8 (6-oz) pieces skinless snapper or halibut fillet
- 1 cup crema (thick Mexican cream) or creme fraiche plus additional for drizzling if desired
- Garnish: fresh cilantro leaves
- Roast chiles on racks of gas burners over high heat, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened, 10 to 12 minutes.
- (Or broil chiles on a broiler pan about 5 inches from heat, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes.)
- Transfer to a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap, then let stand 20 minutes.
- When cool enough to handle, peel chiles, discarding stems and seeds (do not rinse under running water as this washes away flavor), and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
- Cook onions with salt in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until onions are tender but still have texture, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in chiles and cook, stirring, 1 minute, then season with salt.
- Preheat oven to 450F.
- Unfold banana leaves.
- Cut off (and reserve) tough center rib that runs along bottom edge of each leaf with kitchen shears.
- Cut ribs into 12- to 14-inch strips for tying packets.
- Gently cut leaves into 8 (12-inch) squares, being careful not to split them.
- Slowly run a banana-leaf square across flame of a gas burner, just enough to "melt" outer coating on leaf (it will become quite shiny; if you have an electric stove, hold leaf slightly above burner on moderately high).
- Place a piece of fish in center of square and season with salt, then top with 1/2 cup rajas and 2 tablespoons crema.
- Fold 2 sides of banana leaf over fish to enclose it, then fold in opposite sides to form a packet.
- Tie packet with a strip of banana-leaf rib and transfer to a large baking sheet.
- Assemble 7 more packets in same manner.
- Bake fish packets in middle of oven 20 minutes, then transfer each to a large plate or shallow soup bowl.
- Cut ties of packets and open them (leaves are not edible).
- Drizzle fish with additional crema.
- Available at Latino and Asian markets.
fresh poblano chiles, white onions, salt, safflower oil, banana, skinless snapper, crema, fresh cilantro
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/fish-wrapped-in-banana-leaves-with-chile-rajas-and-crema-107200 (may not work)