Grilled Fish In Banana Leaf

Description
Fish fillets wrapped in banana leaves and grilled, infusing them with a subtle smoky aroma and keeping them moist and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 t black peppercorns
- 2 t fresh coriander root,chopped 1 sl fresh ginger,quarter-sized
- - crush,ed -
- 1 1/2 t soy sauce
- 2 lb whole snapper =or=- striped
- -bass -=,or=-
- 4 whole trout
- 1 lg banana leaf (or more if
- -needed)
- 1 vegetable oil (for oiling
- -leaf)
- chile lime sauce ===============
- 3 sm green serrano chiles seeded
- - and fi,nely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 t fresh coriander leaves 1 t sugar
- 1/4 t salt
- 1/2 c fresh lime juice 1/3 c chicken stock
Directions
- This recipe illustrates the popular use of banana leaves as a food wrapper in Asia. Aluminum foil works well as a substitute.
- IN A MINI-FOOD PROCESSOR, add the garlic, peppercorns, coriander root
- and ginger; process into a fine mince. Transfer into a mortar and pound into a smooth paste; add soy sauce and blend thoroughly. Clean fish and pat dry with paper towel. Rub garlic mixture over entire
- fish; set aside for 30 minutes. Choose a banana leaf about 6 inches longer and 3 times wider than the fish. Rinse leaf with cold water to clean. Plunge leaf into a pot of boiling water for a few seconds to soften. Wipe dry. Using a knife or scissors, remove the thick spine in the leaf. Place the leaf with its glossy side down on a work
- surface. (Use more leaves if needed.) Brush oil on the leaf where the fish will lie. Set the fish with the marinade on the oiled surface.
- Fold over the wide sides overlapping at the top and secure with toothpicks. Turn over package, fold over ends to enclose sides, and secure ends with toothpicks to make a neat parcel. Set packet about 3 inches above medium-high heat coals and grill each side for 8 to 10 minutes. NOTE: If using trout, marinate the 4 fish together. Wrap each 1 individually and reduce the grilling time to about 3 minutes
- on each side. Serves 4 as part of an Asian multicourse menu. Transfer to a serving plate. Open leaf and serve with accompanying sauce.
- CHILE LIME SAUCE: In a mortar or a mini-food processor, add the chiles, garlic, coriander leaves, sugar and salt; pound (or chop) into a smooth paste. Put chile mixture into a saucepan with lime juice and stock; bring --